Anytime Leonardo DiCaprio takes on a new role, the chances are high that it’ll be one worth considering for awards buzz, and that’s pretty much been the case for the past 30 years, since he co-starred in one of the biggest blockbusters of all time, James Cameron’s Titanic. Of course, if Leo’s former co-star John C. Reilly had anything to do with it, Kate Winslet’s Rose might have been wooed by a completely different actor as Jack.

DiCaprio teamed up for the first time with Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another, a big winner at this year’s Oscars. But the icons came close-ish to working together in the late ’90s for Boogie Nights, and the actor has voiced some Sliding Doors-esque regrets about not signing on to play Dirk Diggler, a role that went to Mark Wahlberg. Now, Reilly has spoken out about his advisory role in that process, which arguably amounts to some of the worst career guidance imaginable.

Appearing on Ted Danson’s podcast Where Everybody Knows Your Name, streaming on YouTube, the actor shared that he thought he was doing a former co-star a solid by steering him clear of working on Titanic. As he put it:

At that point, Anderson's only produced feature was 1996's Hard Eight. And while it was acclaimed upon its release, it didn't exactly eclipse all of James Cameron's previous accomplishments. But John C. Reilly still tried to woo the young actor by playing up the same kind of criticisms that Cameron faced as his production's budget expanded beyond expectations. Namely, that nobody wanted to see that historical tragedy on the big screen. He continued:

To be fair, John C. Reilly also addressed the idea that in 1997, making a breezy Hollywood movie about a well-endowed porn star wasn't exactly the norm, and may not have seemed like the most promising role to DiCaprio, especially when he already had a major part locked down.

The way Reilly puts it, DiCaprio doesn't seem like he was ever truly invested in taking his buddy's advice, especially when it ran counter to all the other counsel he'd been hearing from those hired to guide his career. The Walk Hard actor said:

Interestingly enough, Mark Wahlberg met with James Cameron for Titanic, although he was far more interested in driving around in the director’s Hummer than showing off his acting skills. Less than 10 years later, Wahlberg and DiCaprio shared the screen in Martin Scorsese’s The Departed, though I’d love to know if that movie would have still happened had their 1997 movie roles been switched.

DiCaprio is once again working with Scorsese for a psychological horror movie releasing in 2026, What Happens at Night, with Jennifer Lawrence, Mads Mikkelsen and Patricia Clarkson co-starring. Meanwhile, John C. Reilly will next be seen in the upcoming action movie How to Rob a Bank from John Wick’s David Leitch. Maybe we’ll hear one day that Reilly tried to talk Keanu Reeves out of playing that franchise’s vengeful hitman.

Latest episode of the Fans can find Titanic streaming via Paramount+ subscription, so if it’s been a while since you’ve seen that ol’ movie about a boat sinking, look no further.

As a tactical support agent for A.R.G.U.S., John Economos has been an integral character in Peacemaker, which premiered its second season on the 2025 TV schedule last week. However, one thing Steve Agee’s character has going against him is how difficult it is to pronounce his last named. The Peacemaker stars can’t seem to agree on which pronunciation is correct, but Agee himself claims that fellow actor John C. Reilly has it figured out.

When our own Hannah Saulic interviewed Steve Agee, who was seated next to Sasha Bordeaux actress Sol Rodríguez, during the Peacemaker Season 2 junket, she started off the conversation by asking how Economos is pronounced. Agee said that while Peacemaker creator/co-head of DC Studios James Gunn says “Econ-OH-Mos,” he says “Econ-IHm-IHs.” Then he shared:

While the first version of the Suicide Squad was introduced in 1959, John Ostrander did indeed come up with the modern incarnation of the team that the public knows best, i.e. where incarcerated supervillains are sent on dangerous missions in exchange for leniency and reduced sentences. John Economos has been around 1987’s Suicide Squad #1, and in a strange twist of fate, it’s entirely possible that the real life Economos that Ostrander based the character on is the same person who John C. Reilly knew way back when in Chicago.

Someone should ask Reilly (who was directed by James Gunn for his small role in Guardians of the Galaxy) about the John Economos he knew, and then those details could be matched against ones that John Ostrader can provide about his Economos. Or maybe someone can arrange contact between the two men so they can compare notes and we can get a definitive answer. More importantly, however, is that Agee has Reilly to back him up on the pronunciation of Economos. I’ll be honest though, I still find myself following James Gunn’s lead in saying, “Econ-OH-Mos.”

Pronunciation aside, we’ll see John Economos continue to help out John Cena’s Christopher Smith and the rest of their allies as Peacemaker Season 2 unfolds. The show’s long-awaited arrival also comes over half a year after Steve Agee vocally reprised his character in the animated series Creature Commandos, which can be streamed with an HBO Max subscription as well.

SPOILER WARNING: The following article gives away a detail from The Fantastic Four: First Steps that honestly will not ruin the new 2025 movie for you at all. However, if you still wish to go into every cinematic release with the absolute freshest of eyes, proceed with caution.

Marvel Studios seems to have an unspoken goal of inducting as many names from Hollywood’s A-List into the Marvel Cinematic Universe as possible, even if that means casting them in a small part of little to no significance. This has actually happened on more than one occasion, including in the latest Marvel movie, The Fantastic Four: First Steps. I’ll start there as I recall some of the big stars who took on decidedly minuscule roles in the MCU.

Natasha Lyonne In The Fantastic Four: First Steps

CinemaBlend’s Adam Holmes suspected that Natasha Lyonne would be voicing H.E.R.B.I.E., a robotic assistant, in The Fantastic Four: First Steps prior to its release, but she ended up playing a love interest to The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) named Rachel. The teacher only shows up for a couple of brief scenes and is never brought up again, which makes me wonder if Marvel is keeping an opportunity open for Ben Grimm to meet Alicia Masters in a later film. However, that also makes me wonder why the Poker Face star’s role was introduced in the first place.

Wendell Pierce In Thunderbolts*

Twice in 2025, Wendell Pierce appeared in a new superhero movie for what amounted to a few, relatively inconsequential minutes, the most recent being in the new DC movie, Superman, as The Daily Planet editor-in-chief Perry White. A couple of months earlier, he showed up in Thunderbolts* as Gary, a Congressman who, in a subplot that I have almost completely forgotten about, has it out for Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and wants to see her impeached.

Giancarlo Esposito In Captain America: Brave New World

One issue I had with 2025’s Captain America: Brave New World is how it makes Giancarlo Esposito’s Sidewinder a throwaway side character. How does one cast an actor who has perfected the art of villainy (i.e. Breaking Bad, The Mandalorian, The Boys) and make him the secondary antagonist to Tim Blake Nelson’s Samuel “The Leader” Sterns? I just hope the claims that we will see more of the terrorist leader are true.

John C. Reilly In Guardians Of The Galaxy

At the time Guardians of the Galaxy was released in 2014, John C. Reilly was one of the biggest names in the cast. Yet, the Academy Award nominee’s Corpsman Dey is one of the hilarious space adventure’s most forgettable characters, which might not have been the case if he had been brought back in at least one of the sequels.

Idris Elba In Thor

I would not say that Heimdall is really a random or unimportant role in the Thor movies, considering he does guard the Bifrost and shows up in six MCU installments, not counting a What If…? episode. However, it is a pretty small role for an actor as popular and acclaimed as Idris Elba, especially when compared to his other, more prominent comic book movie roles in The Losers, The Suicide Squad, and more.

Benicio Del Toro In Guardians Of The Galaxy

Speaking as a huge fan of Guardians of the Galaxy, I think we can all agree that The Collector’s sole purpose in that film, and ultimately the MCU as a whole, is to provide exposition. Quite frankly, I believe Academy Award winner Benicio del Toro deserves more chances to make this bizarre character really stand out.

Hannibal Buress In Spider-Man: Homecoming

Donald Glover’s role in Spider-Man: Homecoming is surprisingly small for an artist of his magnitude, but still noteworthy for his previous connections to the webslinger and his reprisal cameo in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse as Aaron “The Prowler” Davis. The one who really gets the short end of the stick in the 2017 hit is acclaimed comedian Hannibal Buress, who appears just twice and for mere seconds at a time as Peter Parker’s (Tom Holland) gym teacher, Coach Wilson. He would show up again in No Way Home, but for even less time.

Just to reiterate how little of an impact Buress’ character makes on Homecoming, the comedian couldn’t make it to the premiere and hired a lookalike to pose as him, and barely anyone noticed. I don’t think it should be that easy for an actor to pull off an otherwise brilliant stunt like this at a red carpet event for a huge blockbuster they are appearing in. In other words, Marvel, if you can get the best, give them the best.

Will Ferrell has had plenty of iconic comedy moments over the course of his career. As a result, there are also plenty of hilarious Ferrell quotes that have been dished out across his film and TV work. But. according to him, it was one line from a co-star that nearly took him out. The actor shared how one line delivered by John C. Reilly in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (one of Ferrell's funniest movies) nearly got him.

It was at the U.S.-Ireland Alliance’s 2025 Oscar Wilde Awards , where Reilly was among the honorees On hand was Will Ferrell, who took the stage to share some heartfelt (and hilarious) memories about their work together. Reflecting on their long-running friendship and comedic chemistry (via People), the Blades of Glory actor shared one improvised moment from Talladega Nights that stood out the most. According to him:

The scene in question takes place while Ferrell’s character, Ricky Bobby, is in a coma. Reilly’s Cal Naughton Jr., Ricky’s loyal but clueless best friend, visits him in the hospital and confesses this wildly inappropriate secret in an attempt at heart-to-heart honesty. The randomness of the revelation, paired with Reilly’s deadpan delivery, was too much for the funnyman to handle. Even though Ricky was supposed to be unconscious, eagle-eyed fans might be able to spot him in the clip below struggling to keep a straight face.

The Elf star also reflected on how he and Reilly first met during his legendary Saturday Night Live days. Still, it wasn’t until Anchorman’s early development that they seriously considered working together. Reilly even participated in the film’s first table read before ultimately passing on a chance to appear in Gangs of New York instead.

Will Ferrell and Talladega Nights director Adam McKay were all in on pairing the two actors up, so they wrote the role of Cal Naughton Jr. just for John C. Reilly. It worked out, as their chemistry brought some of the funniest moments in the film, like the legendary Mike Honcho confession. They've teamed up a few more times, giving us the equally hilarious Step Brothers and maybe the worst Ferrell movie, Holmes & Watson–which had audiences walking out.

Looking back on Talladega Nights makes me wish for another collab between the two. Maybe it's time for that long-rumored Step Brothers 2 to finally happen! The whole Mike Honcho scene shows that while Reilly is an incredible dramatic actor, he’s also one of the best improvisational comedians out there.

Will Ferrell’s tribute at the Oscar Wilde Awards not only celebrated John C. Reilly’s comedic genius but also showcased Ferrell's deep admiration for his friend. Whether they were nearly breaking character on set or performing "Boats N’ Hoes" (a song for which Reilly is credited with writing half of), their partnership has made a significant impact on comedy. It has been a few years since they last shared the screen, and fans always hope for another reunion. Who knows? Maybe Mike Honcho has another confession left to reveal.

Make sure to check out our 2025 movie schedule to see what these two funny guys have coming up next. Will Ferrell's most recently film is the comedy You're Cordially Invited, in which he stars with Reese Witherspoon. You can catch it streaming if you have a Prime Video subscription.

Ben Stiller's comedic taste has been made abundantly clear across his decades of work, and personally, I'm a fan of his unique sense of humor. Recently, he showed it off by retweeting a quietly funny, and random, moment from Step Brothers. Surprisingly, it also highlights an actor (who is connected to Stiller thanks to a show on the 2025 TV schedule) outside of Will Ferrell, and I'm so here for this!

The Adam McKay-directed moment Stiller loved highlights Derek (Adam Scott), Dale Doback (John C. Reilly), Dr. Robert Doback (Richard Jenkins) and Nancy Huff (Mary Steenburgen), among others. The scene takes place at the family dinner table while they wait on Brennan Huff (Ferrell). Self-obsessed Derek is in the midst of a crazy and extravagant fishing story when Dale interrupts him, masterfully the exchange bounces around the table after the posed question, only to land back on Derek, who has forgotten his place in the retelling.

The Severance director hyped it as one of the funniest scenes in all movies, ever. He seems to love the bit so much because of Scott’s performance specifically. The Parks and Rec star's demeanor in this small exchange does seem to rival his role on the Apple TV+ subscription show, Severance. Check it out for yourself below:

It’s a part of Step Brothers that flies by if you aren’t paying attention to it. What, I’m assuming, Stiller found impressively funny about the scene is that Scott sticks to the same level of obnoxiousness through the whole conversation, even when his son pipes up. His character is even bold enough to tell Reilly’s character it’s possible he ruined the whole evening by asking the harmless question. The absurdity and subtlety within the 1:34 run is quiet comedy gold, and it teases at the realities of these types of familial dynamics that can be found around the dinner table.

Stepping back, and realizing that Ben Stiller is praising an early Adam Scott role, you can’t help but wonder if it helped the Parks and Rec alum land his Apple gig. This was long before Severance, but it still made some fans pose the curious question to the Zoolander star too. @LobstaFace tweeted:

It’s no secret that Stiller fought for Scott's casting in Severance, and the big swing paid off. Little did the fans know this Step Brothers scene seems to be part of the reason why the director had such an affinity for the actor.

Stiller’s response to the question above was frank and definitive about the casting of the Big Little Lies alum, stating:

It’s great to know that Scott's commitment and comedy chops within this goofy role helped him land his role on Severance. The Party Down actor really pulled off a great performance in this 2008 flick. From the unexpected but funny musical numbers he participated in, to that parted hair-do, Scott never backed away from delivering Derek’s nauseating personality with humor and wryness. And while Severance is a totally different beast, the actor still brings the same level of commitment to playing Mark too.

One thing is for sure, Ben Stiller knows comedy. For him to hype this innocuous Step Brothers scene is pretty cool, and it’s even better to know that it’s part of why Adam Scott landed Severance. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go rent Step Brothers to relive the comedic layers of this Adam McKay film.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been going strong since 2008, and consistently releases new content both in theaters and streaming for those with a Disney+ subscription. While there have been some box office disappointments in recent years, James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 cleaned up the box office. But hardcore fans were left wondering why Glenn Close and John C. Reilly didn't get to return before the trilogy ended. And a new rumor indicates that the pair of actors might end up finally returning to the MCU.

Close and Reilly starred as Nova Prime and Rhomann Dey in the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie. They're members of the Nova Corps who end up allying with the title characters for the greater good, and were serious scene stealers throughout the 2014 blockbuster. They were missing from the sequels, Holiday Special, and Avengers movies, but rumor circulating on Twitter indicates they'll be back for the developing Nova TV series.

This report is by scooper MyTimeToShineHello, who has successfully called a number of major franchise announcements before they went public. And while we wait for something official from the studio, this casting does make a great deal of sense. If a show about the Nova Corps. is being worked on, it seems logical to bring back the two most recognizable faces with Glenn Close and John C. Reilly.

While this is still just a rumor for now, it's definitely an exciting crumb for longtime fans of the MCU. Moviegoers have spent years watching the Marvel movies in order, and have not-so-patiently waited for Nova Prime and Rhomann Dey. Unfortunately, we never saw the Guardians return to Xandar during their two sequels. James Gunn even confirmed Close nearly had a cameo in Guardians 2, but it was cut.

Fans were also hoping to see the Nova Corps. during Avengers: Infinity War and/or Endgame, since Thanos was such a threat to the entire galaxy. And while Thanos presumably went to Xandar to procure the Power Stone, it happened offscreen. Luckily Close did reprise her role for footage used in the rollercoaster Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.

If Nova comes together, it would seemingly serve as a sequel to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. This could be a serious boon to its viewership, as fans want to know anything they can about what happened to the beloved cosmic heroes after Guardians 3's ending. While the team got their happy ending, fans are still hoping they pop up in an upcoming Marvel movie. So even some references to Rocket and the gang would be super exciting in Nova.

The next MCU movie hitting theaters is Captain America: Brave New World on February 14th. Be sure to check the 2025 movie release dates.

Spoilers for the season premiere of Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, “One Ring Don't Make a Dynasty,” lie ahead. 

Winning Time made its highly anticipated return to HBO for its second season this weekend and quickly dropped viewers back into the world of Dr. Jerry Buss and the “Showtime” Lakers. This was an eventful premiere, as it tackled Magic Johnson’s injury ahead of the ‘80-’81 season, introduced the new (and not-so-improved) coach Paul Westhead and provided a brief glimpse at the 1984 NBA Finals. Aside from the basketball-related drama, there was also some tension amongst the Buss family. I’m talking about that heated family Monopoly scene, and cast members John C. Reilly and Hadley Robinson got candid with us about what it was like filming that moment. 

It was established during the first season that the Buss clan enjoys a good, competitive game of Monopoly. (Now, we need to put some serious emphasis on that second adjective.) This week’s episode saw Jerry facing off with three of his kids – Jeanie, Johnny and Jimmy – at his comfy abode. The game starts friendly enough but takes a serious turn when Johnny provides Jimmy with a prime real estate asset and opts not to eliminate him from the game. Said moves ultimately lead the disappointed Jerry to berate his sons for not possessing cut-throat attitudes or being proactive as prospective businessmen. His boys then respond by calling him out for trying to force them to be a family unit. All the while, poor Jeanie can only try to keep the evening going as planned. 

The scene is very significant and says a lot about John C. Reilly’s Jerry Buss as a parent and a man. So I couldn’t help but ask Reilly and Hadley Robinson about shooting it when I spoke to them on behalf of CinemaBlend during the Winning Time Season 2 junket. When I  chatted with the actors weeks ahead of the SAG-AFTRA strike, they provided some interesting thoughts on the big Buss blow-up. (Say that three times fast.) As cringeworthy as the sequence likely was for viewers, it sounds like it was even tougher for Reilly to actually perform: 

Jerry does indeed regret calling out his boys later on, though his desire for them to be shrewd and forge their own professional paths remains. On the flip side, a person who does seem to have that killer instinct is Jeanie, who’s still climbing the corporate ladder within the Lakers organization this year. Hadley Robinson continues to be incredibly wise when it comes to her portrayal of the future exec and proved that with how she handled this scene, which she relished: 

You really can’t help but appreciate the scene, regardless of how uncomfortable it might be. Director Salli Richardson-Whitfield and writers/EP Max Borenstein and Rodney Barnes – in collaboration with the actors – paint an intriguing image of the Buss family dynamic with this exchange. As John C. Reilly explained, it especially gives one insight into Jerry’s mentality and how he applies it to childrearing. Fatherhood was something that the actual Dr. Buss notably treasured, and Reilly later conveyed during our Zoom interview that the same is true when it comes to Winning Time’s version of the NBA owner:

I can definitely understand how that level of comfortability amongst the actors would’ve been helpful during that particular point of production. All four are certainly professionals in their own rights and seemed to play off each other well. Still, John C. Reilly is the show’s anchor and had to contend with some serious “pressure” when taking on the role of Buss. It shouldn’t be too shocking, however, that the veteran actor has been able to pull it off. His talents are well known, with even the real Jeanie Buss paying him a compliment by sharing her late dad’s admiration for him as an actor.

If for some reason you’re thinking family Monopoly night amounts to the most awkward scene of the season, think again. The table is clearly being set for a strenuous string of episodes, and John C. Reilly, Hadley Robinson and their co-stars had to go all in. Reilly also told us the board game sequence marks only one moment in which Jerry “cracks under the pressure” this season. So keep that in mind as you await what’s to come. 

Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty airs on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO as part of the 2023 TV schedule. Anyone with a Max subscription can also stream the episodes when they premiere.

This past weekend, HBO’s Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty finished up its lauded and criticized first-season run. Many fans and critics have praised the sports series, though Laker alums like Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar have spoken out against it. Amid the critiques though, it would seem that at least one of the show’s stars had a pleasant encounter with one of the NBA franchise’s bigwigs. John C. Reilly, who plays late team owner Jerry Buss, apparently had a lovely exchange with the man’s daughter – current controlling owner Jeanie Buss. 

A lot has been said about the portrayals in Winning Time, particularly those of Magic Johnson and Jerry West. John C. Reilly portrays Jerry Buss as a comical and business-minded man, who’s prone to fly by the seat of his pants when it comes to making big decisions. Season 1 also touched on his playboy tendencies, which were widely covered by the media during his team’s Showtime era of the ‘80s. When Jeanie Buss approached Reilly at a Laker game, she didn’t drop thoughts on his performance as her father, though. In fact, she actually heaped praise on one of the actor’s other notable works:

So as it turns out, the late, great businessman, scientist and philanthropist was more than aware of the star’s abilities as an actor. Talk about a full-circle moment. If you ask me, his assessment was correct, as the Aviator alum has proven that he can hold his own in comedies like Guardians of the Galaxy and in dramas like The Sisters Brothers. I guess the age-old adage is true: game recognizes game.

Jeanie Buss may have remained mum on Winning Time, but her colleagues haven’t held back while sharing their own feelings. Magic Johnson asserted that he would not be tuning in, as he didn’t believe the series could accurately replicate Showtime. His former teammate, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, shared his thoughts, saying that the show presents “crude stick-figure representations” of the people involved in the actual events. And Jerry West was so displeased with the show’s depiction of himself that he got lawyers involved in his complaint. In the same interview with Vulture, John C. Reilly offered his take on the reactions:

Magic Johnson actor Quincy Isaiah has also responded to the backlash, saying that he can “understand where they coming from because it's a story about their life.” He went on to argue that the show is merely a “dramatization,” though, and also sent some love to Johnson. In HBO’s own rebuttal, following Jerry West’s complaint, the network acknowledged that some parts of the series are “fictionalized” but that “its depictions are based on extensive factual research and reliable sourcing.”

Work on a second season of Winning Time is already in full swing and, when it eventually sees the light of day, it’s fair to assume that other Laker alums may choose to chime in. But before any of that potentially happens, let’s appreciate the sweet conversation that John C. Reilly and Jeanie Buss had amid the current wave of backlash. 

Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty is now available to stream in its entirety with an HBO Max subscription.

Boogie Nights was an incredibly packed ensemble experience from filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson. The critically acclaimed drama featured the story of a dishwasher who ends up becoming famous by making pornographic films, and shows his rise and fall in the porn industry.

But, with such a large ensemble, one might be wondering where the Boogie Nights cast is now and what they’ve been up to after nearly twenty-five years. Well, look no further, as we aim to answer that question today and let you know exactly where stars like Mark Wahlberg, Julianne Moore, and others are now. 

Mark Wahlberg (Eddie Adams/Dirk Diggler)

As the star of Boogie Nights, Mark Wahlberg received wide-spread acclaim for his role as Eddie Adams, otherwise known as Dirk Diggler. Since his role in the film, Wahlberg has been up to so much. 

Wahlberg’s biggest film roles so far have included a major role in The Transformers series, an Academy Award-nominated role in The Departed, directed by Martin Scorsese, The Italian Job, The Perfect Storm, the Daddy’s Home series, and many more. He’s also had success in television too, producing shows like Boardwalk Empire, Entourage, Ballers, and others. 

Some of his upcoming work are the films Father Stu, Me Time, Arthur the King, Our Man From Jersey, and The Six Billion Dollar Man, so he’ll surely be appearing in more awesome movies. 

Julianne Moore (Maggie/Amber Waves)

Next up, we have Julianne Moore, who played Maggie/Amber Waves in Boogie Nights and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Since her performance in the movie, Moore has become an even bigger star. 

While she has had some small roles on television, such as an appearance on Sesame Street and a minor recurring role on the classic series, 30 Rock, Moore has mainly kept her talents to the big screen. Some of her biggest roles thus far have included Still Alice, for which she won an Academy Award, The Big Lebowski, Crazy, Stupid, Love, Maps to the Stars, Far From Heaven, Dear Evan Hansen, and The Hunger Games series, which recently just turned ten years old. 

Coming up, Moore will be in many new movies, including Sharper, Mothertrucker, May December, and Fruitcake, so I’m sure the next couple of years are going to be jam-packed for this amazing actress. 

Burt Reynolds (Jack Horner)

Burt Reynolds was a legendary name in Hollywood, and he earned rave reviews for his performance in Boogie Nights as Jack Horner, including a nomination for Best Supporting Actor. 

After his role in the film, Reynolds would go on to have a prominent film career, just as he did before, appearing in movies like Crazy Six, Hotel, Driven, The Longest Yard, Grilled, In The Name of the King, Deal, and others. He also had a recurring role in the TV series, My Name is Earl, as well as playing Ron Wilcox in Hitting the Breaks. 

Unfortunately, Burt Reynolds passed away in 2018 at the age of 82, but we have the rest of his amazing legacy in Hollywood to look back on to remember him.

Don Cheadle (Buck Swope)

Playing Buck Swope in Boogie Nights was Don Cheadle, someone who's only gotten more and more popular over the years. Cheadle has had a prominent career in both movies and TV. 

One of his biggest roles that he has reprised many times is playing James Rhodes, otherwise known as War Machine, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, for more than ten years, and he will reprise that role in the upcoming Armor Wars series on Disney+. Some of his other big films roles include Hotel Rwanda, which scored him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, Traffic, Out of Sight, No Sudden Move. Space Jam: A New Legacy, and more. 

He’s also had a great career in television, with a main role in the Showtime series, House of Lies, as well as a main role on Black Monday. Currently, he actually stars in the series, The Wonder Years. 

Soon, he’s going to be appearing in many new movies, including White Noise and Black Stallions, so he certainly has a good line-up for the next couple of years. 

John C. Reilly (Reed Rothchild)

Next up, we have Reed Rothchild in Boogie Nights, played by John C. Reilly. The actor has had quite the career since Boogie Nights took off, and has appeared in a variety of movies and TV shows. 

Some of his biggest movies were appearing in Magnolia (another Paul Thomas Anderson film), The Thin Red Line, the musical film, Chicago, The Aviator, Step Brothers alongside Will Ferrell, Kong: Skull Island, The Guardians of the Galaxy, and so many more.

He’s also had a prominent career in television too, including a voice role in Stone Quackers, a starring role in Check It Out! With Dr. Steve Brule, a recurring role in Moonbase 8, a voice role in Ultra City Smiths, and more. His latest project is playing Jerry Buss, owner of the L.A. Lakers, in Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, on HBO. 

William H. Macy (Bill “Little Bill” Thompson)

Another big name in Boogie Nights is William H. Macy, and while he had already made a name for himself years before with movies such as Fargo, Macy has had a huge career in the last twenty-five years. 

Some of his biggest film accomplishments have been starring in Magnolia, as well, Psycho, The Cooler, the Studio Ghibli film, The Wind Rises, Cake, Room, The Layover, Krystal, and so much more. However, his longest-running project thus far was portraying patriarch Frank Gallagher on the popular Showtime series, Shameless, for a 11 seasons, becoming a character fans loved to hate on the series.

His latest project is The Dropout on Hulu, where he plays Richard Fuisz, so keep an eye out for him. 

Heather Graham (Brandy/Rollergirl)

Next up, we have Heather Graham, who played Brandy/Rollergirl in Boogie Nights. Graham has appeared in many other movies since, with some of her biggest roles being in Bowfinger, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, The Hangover and The Hangover Part III, the Daniel Radcliffe-led film, Horns, The Last Son, and more. 

Graham has also done some television work as well, appearing in shows like Bliss, Angie Tribeca, Get Shorty, Law & Order True Crime, and others. Coming up, she’s going to be in many new movies, including Oracle, On a Wing and a Prayer, and more. 

Nicole Ari Parker (Becky Barnett)

Playing Becky Barnett in Boogie Nights was Nicole Ari Parker, who has had a huge career in television. While she has appeared in many movies as well, including Remember the Titans, Brown Sugar, Almost Christmas, How It Ends, and more, she’s mainly kept her talents to TV. 

Parker appeared as a recurring cast member on Cosby, was a part of the main cast on Soul Food, as well as The Second Time Around and The Deep End. She was a recurring cast member on Revolution, as well as on I’m Dying Up Here, Empire, and Chicago P.D. Most recently, she was a part of the recurring cast of the Sex and the City spinoff, And Just Like That…,which just got renewed for a second season. 

Soon, she’s going to have a role in two new movies, We Are Gathered Here Today and HeadShop, as well as appear in a new TV series called At That Age. 

Philip Seymour Hoffman (Scotty J.)

Moving on, we have Philip Seymour Hoffman, who played Scotty J in Boogie Nights. After his role in the film, Hoffman appeared in many movies. 

Some of his biggest roles were in Patch Adams, The Big Lebowski, Magnolia, Charlie Wilson’s War, Doubt, The Master, The Savages, and more, alongside a bigger role in The Hunger Games series. He did have some minor appearance on TV, including two episodes of Empire Falls, but mainly stuck to movies. 

Sadly, Philip Seymour Hoffman passed away in 2014 at the age of 46. 

Luis Guzman (Maurice Rodriguez/T.T. Rodriguez)

Next up is Luis Guzman, who played Maurice Rodriguez/T.T. Rodriguez in Boogie Nights. After his role in the film, Guzman has appeared in many movies, including Magnolia (like many of his other castmates) Traffic, Punch-Drunk Love, War, We’re the Millers, The Last Stand, 9/11, The Birthday Cake, and several others. 

He’s also had a great career in television as well, with several main roles and recurring appearances. Some of his most-known were playing the titular role in Luis, Rene Calderon in How to Make It in America, Jesse Salander in Code Black, Jose Gonzalo Rodriguez Gacha in Narcos, Mikey O’Shea in Shameless (usually alongside William H. Macy) and Jorge Cuevas in Hightown. Talk about a stacked resume. 

Coming up soon, he is going to be portraying one of the most iconic TV characters ever, Gomez Addams, in the upcoming series, Wednesday, so definitely be on the lookout for this Netflix series to drop.

Philip Baker Hall (Floyd Gondolli)

Floyd Gondolli in Boogie Nights was played by Philip Baker Hall, who has had a great career in both movies and television. Some of his biggest roles include Psycho, The Insider, Magnolia, Rules of Engagement, The Amityville Horror, The Last Word, and more. 

Some of his most-known television roles have been a recurring role on Pasadena, as well as work on The Loop, Second Change, and Messiah. 

Thomas Jane (Todd Parker)

Last but not least, we have Thomas Jane, who played Todd Parker in Boogie Nights. Since his appearance, Jane has popped up in many movies and television shows. Some of his biggest movies include, but aren’t limited to, The Punisher, 1922, Deep Blue Sea, The Mist, The Predator, Vice, Hot Summer Nights, and many others. 

He’s also had some major roles in television, including playing Ray Drecker on Hung, James Wykoff in Texas Rising, Joe Miller in The Expanse, and Ted Conkaffey in Troppo. Coming up soon, he’s going to be in several new films, including Vendetta, Slayers, and Bad Hombres, among many others. 

There are still plenty of other names that you might recognize from Boogie Nights, such as Alfred Molina, Michael Penn, Robert Downey Sr., and more. However, this updates you on the main stars who have been active to this day with some amazing film and TV work. 

Spoilers for the first episode of Winning Time: Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, “The Swan,” lie ahead.

HBO’s new series, Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, has finally arrived and, so far, both general viewers and critics mostly seem to be enjoying the sports dramedy. The series premiere had its fair share of memorable moments, with some being more sentimental and others just downright hilarious. Of course, the show isn’t without tension, and that was definitely on display when Quincy Isaiah’s Magic Johnson and DeVaughn Nixon’s Norm Nixon played a game of one on one. The two actors have some keen thoughts on the “tough” scene, which actually received a crucial note from co-star John C. Reilly. 

The sequence in question takes place during the latter part of Winning’s Time’s first episode. In it, Magic Johnson and Norm Nixon, who’d developed a somewhat uneasy relationship up to that point, engage in a basketball game in the middle of a white party at Donald Sterling’s house. The usually upbeat Magic ultimately loses to Norm in humiliating fashion, and the moment was pretty visceral for Quincy Isaiah himself. When I asked him about the scene during a roundtable discussion, he recalled why it was so difficult:

I don’t know about any of you, but I couldn't help but cringe when I saw the actor suffer the fictional defeat. And I can definitely see why he wasn’t feeling too good about co-star DeVaughn Nixon immediately after the cameras stopped rolling. As the “enemy” in the situation, Nixon had a somewhat different experience amid production. In a separate roundtable chat, he explained that he really wanted to go method but also honor his famous father through his portrayal:

For better or worse, the star’s tactics definitely worked. To say that DeVaughn Nixon fully committed to the smugness of this fictionalized version of his dad would be an understatement. And as he further explained, he even went as far as to improvise one of the sequence’s most demoralizing moments:

Friend and colleague Quincy Isaiah may not have been happy at the time but, now, even he can’t argue with the results. The up-and-coming star later discussed what the moment did for the show and got honest about what it meant for him as an actor:

All in all, the basketball matchup, which was directed by Adam McKay, is done well. However, the director received some keen advice from John C. Reiley, who portrays Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss. While sitting on the same roundtable with Quincy Isaiah, Reilly revealed the tip he gave his Step Brothers collaborator:

The Aviator alum has proven to be an astute performer, and this small note further cements that notion. The importance of this suggestion may not be clear to some right away. However, the Stan & Ollie star knows how a smile can sometimes serve as a form of protection in tough situation:

The collaboration at play here is a true credit to the talents of Winning Time’s cast and crew. Such synergy is definitely appropriate for this project, given that in the NBA, teamwork is ultimately the key to success. We’ll see what else the group pulls off as the season continues to unfold.

Winning Time: Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty airs new episodes on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO, and they can later be streamed with an HBO Max subscription. The series is certainly proving to be one of 2022’s most talked-about new shows thus far.

The latest project from Anchorman and Don't Look Up filmmaker Adam McKay has arrived with the HBO series Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty. Based on Jeff Pearlman's book Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s, Winning Time tells the story of the NBA team’s domination of sports and pop culture throughout the '80s. Critics got to see eight of the first season's ten episodes before their release, and while we know Lakers legend Magic Johnson won’t be checking this one out, hopefully these reviews can help you decide if this groovy series is one you want to dive into.

Leading the cast is John C. Reilly as legendary team owner Jerry Buss, and he’s accompanied by a long list of talented players, including Quincy Isaiah as Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Jason Clarke as former Lakers star and general manager Jerry West, Adrien Brody as coach Pat Riley, Solomon Hughes as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and many more. With so much talent both behind and in front of the camera, let’s see how Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty fared with critics.

Jack Hamilton of Slate says that as a fan of Adam McKay’s and basketball, he thinks Winning Time is just okay, and that it feels like a missed opportunity, especially with good performances by a handful of the actors, including Quincy Isaiah as Magic Johnson. Hamilton says there isn’t much basketball to be witnessed, and the HBO series is flashy without the substance to back it up:

Daniel D’Addario of Variety echoes the above sentiment, saying Winning Time is trying to convince viewers it’s fun, but forgets its fundamentals. He says even the Showtime Lakers wouldn’t have held fans’ attention if they didn’t have the talent to back up everything else. D’Addario also compliments Quincy Isaiah on his portrayal of No. 32, saying:

More positive was Dave Nemetz of TVLine, who calls the series a “wild, energetic slam dunk,” while giving it a grade of B+. Adam McKay and company probably bit off more than they can chew by featuring too many characters, this critic says, but the show’s dynamic style and the intriguing personalities make up for its misgivings.

Bill Goodykoontz of USA TODAY rates Winning Time 3.5 stars out of 4, saying that just like the team it’s based on, the HBO show is flashy, fast-paced, and fun to watch, and viewers don’t have to be up on basketball knowledge to enjoy it.

Josh Sorokach of Decider also points out that viewers don’t have to be basketball fans to enjoy Winning Time’s “sharp writing and dazzling performances,” but the series should be appointment viewing for NBA fans.

The critics seem to agree that newcomer Quincy Isaiah was the right choice to portray Lakers legend Magic Johnson, but it’s somewhat of a mixed bag as to how well the rest of the series comes together. Anybody looking to see Last Dance-levels of court-centered drama may be disappointed, but those hoping to see sports debauchery that doesn't happen much these days may be in for a treat.

If you want to give it a shot, Winning Time premieres on Sunday, March 6, at 9 p.m. ET on HBO. Be sure to check out our 2022 TV Schedule to see when new and returning shows are premiering.

The Los Angeles Lakers are without a doubt one of the most iconic sports teams in all of pop culture, so it’s no surprise that the organization is the subject of a new HBO series – Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty. The show viewers on a nostalgic trip to the late ‘70s and chronicles the start of the team’s “Showtime” era. The man at the center of the tale is late team owner Dr. Jerry Buss, who’s played by John C. Reilly on the show. Reilley definitely had big shoes to fill and also had to play the role for his longtime collaborator, Adam McKay. So the actor had to find a way to handle the “pressure” that came with the gig.

John C. Reilly has played big roles for notable directors before. He portrayed Noah Dietrich for Martin Scorsese in The Aviator and channeled Oliver Hardy in Jon S. Baird’s Stan & Ollie. Though it’s hard to top a pop culture staple like Hardy, I’d argue that playing a sports figure like Dr. Buss is nerve-wracking in a different way. During a Winning Time roundtable I attended, Reilly talked about landing the part and revealed that he actually didn’t have much time to prepare:

The veteran actor definitely found a positive way to look at the situation. Not many performers may have been willing to jump into such a substantial role on short notice. However, as he so astutely pointed out, some just “have greatness thrust upon them.” Though the star would go on to discuss the pressure that came with the job, he also detailed a few factors that made his transition into the role easier:

Dr. Buss lived an interesting life, even before the chemist-turned-businessman took a massive gamble by purchasing the struggling Lakers in 1979. From there, he drafted a young Magic Johnson, who helped lead the franchise to an NBA title in 1980. That championship, of course, would be the first of five that the team would win before the end of the decade. However, Winning Time puts a keen focus on the early struggles the team faced on its way to the mountaintop. You can get a taste of what’s in store by checking out the trailer down below:

As you can see, John C. Reilly is far from the only heavy hitter on the show, which also features names like Adrien Brody, Jason Clarke, Michael Chikllis and Sally Field. There’s also newer talent in the form of Haldley Robinson, Quincy Isaiah and Tamera Tomakili. The show’s producers had the massive task of casting real-life figures like Larry Bird and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and, somehow, they succeeded in finding the perfect actors. 

John C. Reilly’s performance as Dr. Jerry Buss is a true testament to that casting notion. Additionally, Adam McKay, who produced the series and directed the pilot, got the best out of the ensemble of stars. All in all, fans are going to want to tune in to see what’s in store for Reilly’s Buss and the rest of the characters this season.

Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty premieres on Sunday, March 6 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and will also be available to stream with an HBO Max subscription. The series is just one of the many new shows viewers can look forward to this year.

Kathryn Hahn may have shined as Agatha Harkness earlier this year in WandaVision, but it’s just one of the many roles she’s knocked out of the proverbial park over the years. For example, Hahn was hilarious as Alice Huff in 2008’s Step Brothers, where she and John C. Reilly’s Dale Doback became embroiled in an intense, yet oh so odd affair. But in the midst of acting out this sexual passion, Hahn and Reilly also included a hilarious murder mystery improv scenario.

Naturally Step Brothers was one of the many movies and TV shows that Kathryn Hahn went over while breaking her career with Vanity Fair, and here’s what she said about what acting opposite John C. Reilly was like in the Adam McKay-helmed film:

In case it’s been a while since you’ve seen Step Brothers (or on the off chance you’ve never seen the comedy movie that also starred Will Ferrell, Mary Steenburgen, Richard Jenkins and Adam Scott), among the many places that Kathryn Hahn and John C. Reilly’s characters… shall we say, rendezvoused was in the men’s bathroom at a restaurant. But in addition to sexual shenanigans, Hahn and Reilly also acted out a situation where their characters shockingly killed someone in the bathroom and covered it up. This wasn’t scripted for the scene, they just came up with it on the spot.

None of this ended up in Step Brothers’ final cut, but I have so many questions. Who was this person Alice and Dale killed? Did they murder this individual because they didn’t want their affair to leak back to their families, or is it because Alice was actually one of the country’s most dangerous unidentified serial killers? How did they cover up the murder quickly enough without attracting attention? It’s safe to say that Kathryn Hahn and John C. Reilly didn’t flesh out this scenario with this much depth, but at the very least, it’d be nice to watch footage of how all this played out.

Kathryn Hahn and John C. Reilly’s dynamic was one of the many ways that Step Brothers delivered the laughs in 2008, and while the movie was met with mixed reception among professional critics at the time, the fact that it’s still frequently being talked about over a decade later proves it’s collected a big fanbase. Unfortunately for those of you who’d like to see what Brennan Huff and Dale Doback are up to nowadays, there hasn’t been any movement on making Step Brothers 2 a reality, although perhaps there will come a day where Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly are finally game to check back in with these characters.

As for Kathryn Hahn’s professional endeavors, she can be heard later this year as Ericka Van Helsing in Hotel Transylvania: Transformia, and she’s also joined the cast of Knives Out 2. Those of you curious about what other movies are coming out later this year should scan through our 2021 release schedule.

Well, to all who walked out of Holmes & Watson, let it be known you walked out of an award-winning film! And you were probably right to do so.

Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly's Holmes & Watson won four Razzies at the 39th annual Golden Raspberry Awards. Hollywood's worst list is always announced the day before the Academy Awards. The star-studded comedy won the not-so-coveted prize of Worst Picture; plus Worst Remake, Ripoff, or Sequel; Worst Director for Etan Cohen; and Worst Supporting Actor for John C. Reilly.

Strangely enough, the critically maligned Holmes & Watson did not win Worst Screen Combo, and Will Ferrell was spared Worst Actor, since both prizes somehow went to President Donald Trump. Trump won two 2019 Razzies. Melissa McCarthy also won the Worst Actress Razzie while she's nominated tomorrow for an Oscar for Best Actress.

Here's the full list of 2019 Razzie Award "winners," via USA Today, along with the nominees who were just lucky to be -- no, I guess in this case they weren't lucky just to be nominated.

Yikes. Here's who "won" last year's Razzies, by the way. Do you think any of these new winners will proudly display their Razzie Awards, the way Dwayne Johnson does for Baywatch? The 2019 Oscars will be awarded Sunday, February 24 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Ouch. You know your film is in trouble when even Netflix won't pick it up. As we have learned, Netflix buys just about anything. But it seems it was elementary even to the streamer that Holmes and Watson should be an exception.

The star-studded Holmes and Watson -- led by popular actors Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly -- just opened to dismal reviews from both critics and audiences. The comedy has a D+ CinemaScore from polled moviegoers. It has a 12 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which is actually an improvement from its initial zero percent, with an Audience Score of 27 percent.

Some moviegoers thought Holmes and Watson was so bad, they walked out.

According to Deadline, studio Sony pretty much saw this coming. Test scores for Holmes and Watson were so awful, Sony had tried to unload the movie to Netflix, but Netflix wouldn't buy it.

The Wrap film critic Alonso Duralde echoed that sentiment, twisting the knife a bit by adding a comparison to a film Netflix did buy:

Oof. The Cloverfield Paradox was a surprise last-minute addition to Netflix. It also got pretty bad reviews, but not quite Holmes and Watson bad. Not all Netflix films are stinkers, but the streamer has gotten a reputation as a dumping ground for films that studios want to unload to avoid a box office bust. But Mowgli wasn't bad, and got mixed reviews from critics and audiences. Netflix even got to stream Roma, one of the best films of 2018, but only after the film premiered at the Venice International Film Festival and had a limited theatrical run. Netflix also picked up Sandra Bullock's Bird Box, which took off on social media and apparently set a new viewing record for the streamer.

It's possible Netflix is raising its standards, to salvage its reputation as being great for original TV series and not-so-great for its films.

In a flip on this story, Crazy Rich Asians reportedly turned down a major offer from Netflix to distribute the film. The Hollywood Reporter said Netflix was "dangling complete artistic freedom, a greenlighted trilogy and huge, seven-figure-minimum paydays for each stakeholder, upfront." But book writer Kevin Kwan said he and film director Jon M. Chu wanted the film to be an "old-fashioned cinematic experience, not for fans to sit in front of a TV and just press a button."

Holmes and Watson was made off a production budget of $42 million, according to Box Office Mojo. It picked up $12.5 million from the first three days after its Christmas debut. It is likely to be lost in the shuffle of this pre-New Year's weekend, following Aquaman, Mary Poppins Returns, Bumblebee, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, and more.

Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly will walk away from this with their careers unscathed. This won't define them. That said, they should try to make lemonade out of it by showing up to The Razzies if and when Holmes and Watson picks up some nominations.

The 2018 movie season is winding down as of this weekend, but there's plenty to look forward to in 2019 -- on the big screen, and on Netflix.

When you think about great comedic pairings, there's a solid chance that Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly come to mind thanks to their team-ups in Adam McKay's movies like Step Brothers. So seeing the actors reunite for a comedic take on Sherlock Holmes seemed like a safe bet for guaranteed laughs. Unfortunately, that does not appear to be the case with Holmes & Watson, because the movie is apparently so bad and unfunny that people are actually walking out. Take a look:

Wow, that is rough. Not only did this Twitter user think that the movie was bad enough to walk out of, but she actually doesn't want to see the duo of Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly work together again. Holmes & Watson turned her off the pairing entirely! That is definitely not what you want to hear.

Unfortunately, this does not appear to have been an isolated incident as many people have taken to Twitter to complain about Holmes & Watson, with many saying that they walked out it was so bad. Apparently even those who are against walking out of movies felt compelled to here. Check it out:

Yikes. Falling asleep, walking out, and being compared it to another horrible movie isn't a great look for Holmes & Watson. Most Twitter users posting about these reported walkouts aren't stuffy critics or those who find this type of comedy beneath them. Instead, they're fans of the actors and their previous work, simply not finding Holmes & Watson funny.

Many of the people claiming they walked out of the film are also claiming that they weren't alone and auditoriums playing Holmes & Watson experienced mass exoduses:

A lot of the walkouts Tweets are also accompanied by demands for money back, claims that this is the worst movie ever and comparisons to other near universally condemned films like Waterworld (which is unfairly maligned if you ask me). Claims that people fell asleep were also common:

Of those who couldn't make it through the film and walked out, it doesn't appear that many made it very far. There are plenty of tweets that said they walked out anywhere from 15 minutes in to 45 minutes in. Not many moviegoers seemed to make it more than halfway through if they chose to walk out. I suppose they felt they had given it a fair enough shake at that point.

Another person who saw the film went in the opposite direction of those who never want to see Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly together onscreen again, desiring a redemptive opportunity after this debacle.

Holmes & Watson may be one of those instances where audiences and critics are in agreement about a film. The critical reviews for the film are dismal, with it currently sitting at 5% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Personally I didn't find the trailer for Holmes & Watson to be funny, and I think many of us were expecting it to be bad. But for the film to not only be a bad movie, but to prompt walkouts from the general public is a feat indeed.

If you're feeling brave or masochistic, Holmes & Watson is now playing. For all of the movies studios are hoping people don't walk out of next year, check out our 2019 Release Schedule.

It's the Christmas equivalent of coal in the stocking. Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly released a comedy into theaters over the Christmas frame, and currently, their Holmes & Watson enjoys a Zero % Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.

Granted, it's only 12 reviews. The movie didn't press screen, prompting critics to drag themselves to theaters over the holiday to see if Will Ferrell as the legendary detective and John C. Reilly as his trusted partner could generate some laughs. Well, they didn't. The reviews have been savage, with Ben Kenigsberg of the New York Times writing:

The consensus on the whodunit appears to be that it coasts for a little while on the chemistry of the two men, who have appeared together in memorable comedies like Step-Brothers and Talladega Nights. However, without Adam McKay at the helm, the guys have to carry too much of the load, and THR writes:

Yeah, safe to say a few critics really took this movie to task just because it made them head to the theaters over the holiday. Can't say I blame them. But the movie also lacked any real reason to be excited about actually seeing the comedy. In the IndieWire review, David Ehrlich states:

While the AV Club definitively summarizes:

Basically, stay away. Holmes & Watson doesn't work. Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly certainly will work again. Probably even together. But this comedy hopefully taught them that they need to do more than just slide into the period costumes of two famous characters to make audiences laugh.

Did you see Holmes & Watson this week? Are the critics wrong? If you dug it, weigh below and let us know YOUR review of the new movie.

When it comes to comedic duos, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy are untouchable legends -- but that creates a bit of trouble when it comes to bringing them back to life for a biopic. The two of them had not only an incredible chemistry, but also a challenging friendship that fueled their work. To say the least, Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly had their work cut out for them playing the pair in Stan & Ollie, but what was fortunate is that they could lean on their own duo experience to inform the parts. Coogan recently explained,

The subject of comedic duos dominated the conversation when I had the pleasure of sitting down with Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly last month to discuss their work together on Stan And Ollie. Recognizing that both actors have had very strong comedic working relationships in the past, most notably with Rob Brydon and Will Ferrell, respectively, I was curious how they were able to learn from those bonds, as they were enthusiastic in their response.

For John C. Reilly, his work with Will Ferrell is what immediately came to mind, specifically movies like Step Brothers and Talladega Nights, but the actor pointed out that he's actually done quite a bit of two-hander work with a lot of different talents, citing not only his live-action film work, but also animation and stage.

What he took from those partnerships is not just the importance of chemistry, but something much deeper than that. You need the skill to help you try and find the best way to work with someone else, and he found that was key in working with Steve Coogan:

Of course, one major element that they certainly had in their favor working together is their general experience, allowing them the strength to take on something as challenging as Stan & Ollie. At the same time, though, one thing that helped relax just a bit was channeling the attitudes of the men they were playing. The real Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy weren't overly serious about their performing work, and both John C. Reilly and Steve Coogan found themselves inspired by that energy:

The discussion I had with Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly on this subject was a great one, and you can watch their back and forth in action by clicking play on the video below.

Directed by Jon S. Baird, Stan & Ollie begins with the titular duo later in their careers, their star not quite as bright as it was during their heyday. In hopes of reigniting their brand, they embark on a theatre tour of Britain, and use the time to try and not only improve their act, but also their friendship. In addition to Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly, the film also stars Shirley Henderson, Nina Arianda, and Danny Huston - and is now playing in limited release.

Surely one of the advantages of being an actor is being able to dip your toe into a variety of different professions. Different roles call for different backgrounds, educations, and job descriptions, and through those parts performers get to experience different lives. On a certain level it perhaps makes you wonder why you don't hear about more stars making significant career switch-ups when discovering a new passion -- but John C. Reilly recently summed it up nicely at the Los Angeles press day for Holmes And Watson:

I had a bit of fun when I sat down with John C. Reilly and Will Ferrell earlier this month, and out the gate asked if they felt the strength of their partnership could benefit them in other pursuits, such as investigating crimes. Together they noted that the acting thing has been working out pretty well for them, but Reilly went further and explained that while he would actually enjoy a side business doing detective work, he doesn't really think it would work out all that well for him due to his notoriety.

At the end of the day his logic is pretty damn impenetrable. Onlookers can be troublesome enough when the police are examining a public incident, but things would be far worse if those onlookers discovered that one of the people looking into the case was the star of Wreck-It Ralph and Step Brothers. Not only would it be a crazy distraction, but what if they started taking and posting photos that compromised the investigation?

Things probably wouldn't be much better for him even if he went the private detective route. A huge component of that gig is being able to blend into a crowd and go unnoticed by the target you're tailing. That's kind of hard to do when you're starring in four movies a year and have your face all over billboards.

All things considered, at this point John C. Reilly is probably best off sticking to the acting game. After all, he's pretty damn talented (Oscar nominated), and always a delight to see on the big screen. And when people crowd around him on the street and want to take selfies, it won't result in criminals going free.

You can watch John C. Reilly discuss his potential alternate life as a crime solver by clicking play on the video below.

Speaking of seeing John C. Reilly on the big screen, audiences will be able to see him once again paired with Will Ferrell this week in Holmes And Watson, which is arriving in theaters everywhere on Christmas Day.

Sometimes it's tough being super funny. Comedians are too busy cracking each other up to get actual work done. Such was the case in the recording booth for Ralph Breaks the Internet, as actor Jack McBrayer recently revealed that he and John C. Reilly had a lot of fun cracking each other up over mispronunciations of "eBay," or as he put it:

During the making of Ralph Breaks The Internet, Jack McBrayer revealed that often he was doing voice work in a booth by himself. A lot of times when you see footage from animated movies, you see people filming their lines all by their lonesome.

However, that's not always how things work and McBrayer also revealed to Comicbook.com that he was able to record both with his costar John C. Reilly and Jane Lynch on occasion, leading to moments of pure ridiculousness such as the Ebay story. Not all of these ended up in the flick, but it still sounds like the actor had a good time recording.

In fact, Ebay actually plays a rather huge role in Ralph Breaks the Internet. We're about to get into more specific spoilers, so if you haven't caught the fun animated flick yet, now's the time to jump out of this article.

After Ralph and Vanellope venture out of the arcade system and onto the Internet, they are looking for the steering wheel that will fix Vanellope's game. They find an option on eBay and venture to the eBay section of the Internet to purchase it. At one point, apparently Ralph and Fix-It Felix had some fun eBay conversations while recording, although Fix-It Felix's plot in the movie is mostly about how he and his wife adopt all of the other Sugar Rush kids outside of Vanellope.

Although John C. Reilly and Jack McBrayer were cracking each other up, the latter actor still says doing it together is the best way to record an animated movie like Ralph Breaks the Internet.

If you'd like to catch Jack McBrayer and John C. Reilly's vocal work in action, you can catch Ralph Breaks The Internet in theaters now.

John C. Reilly is best known as an Academy Award-nominated actor, but he has proven that he can do a lot more than that. In recent years he has been additionally active as both a writer and a producer, taking a stronger creative role in the projects of which he is a part. As it turns out, this extends to Walt Disney Animation Studios' Ralph Breaks The Internet as well, as while he's not specifically credited in the movie, he was a presence during film's story development, primarily providing basically a first-hand perspective for the titular character. He recently told me,

As noted, John C. Reilly had an "additional story material by" credit on the first Wreck-It Ralph, and evidently it was a positive enough experience that he was brought in to do similar work for Ralph Breaks The Internet. The subject came up earlier this month when I sat down with the actor/writer during the new movie's Los Angeles press junket, when I asked if he felt he had a stronger creative hand in the development of the sequel. He explained that the experience wasn't largely different from the making of the first film, but added that it was ultimately important in terms of his personal investment into the project.

Reilly, of course, voices the titular Wreck-It Ralph in the new movie, and the majority of the narrative is dedicated to his personal growth as a character (along with Sarah Silverman's Vanellope von Schweetz). Rather than just standing on the sidelines and reading lines presented to him in a recording booth, the actor instead opted to get heavily involved with the process and ensure that Ralph's evolution was natural and made sense. Said Reilly,

And it's worth noting that this behind-the-scenes presence isn't just a one-off thing for John C. Reilly. Not many films are developed like the projects at Walt Disney Animation Studios, written by teams and constantly being constructed and deconstructed, but the actor/writer/producer is still finding ways to be more involved with the movies and shows of which he chooses to be a part. That's essentially where his head is at this point is in his career, as he explained,

You can watch John C. Reilly discuss his behind-the-scenes contributions on Ralph Breaks The Internet and more by clicking play on the video below!

Just a few months ago John C. Reilly was credited as both an actor and producer for Jacques Audiard's The Sisters Brothers, and he's currently developing a new series called Moonbase 8 (which is an original creation). Right now, though, you can Ralph Breaks The Internet on big screens everywhere, as the movie is now out in wide release.

John C. Reilly has taken a special ownership over Wreck-it Ralph. It's rare that an actor in a Walt Disney Animation feature gets the chance to return to voice a character (unlike Pixar, Disney hardly ever greenlights sequels to its properties), so Reilly was protective of where Wreck-it Ralph went in the new sequel, and what happened to this tender lug. During a recent conversation with CinemaBlend, Reilly told us why he was emotionally attached to Ralph in Ralph Breaks the Internet, elaborating:

The world of Wreck-it Ralph owes itself to a fictional video game. In it, Ralph (John C. Reilly) was the villain who destroyed buildings, and players played as Fix-it Felix (Jack McBrayer), a magical fix-it man.

The concept gets blown out to much bigger proportions in Ralph Breaks the Internet, as Ralph and Vanellope (Sarah Silverman) leave their arcade for the World Wide Web, in search of a replacement part for Vanellope's busted game, Sugar Rush.

But the core of the duo's friendship is very much the beating heart of Ralph Breaks the Internet, and as the story progresses, some interesting developments occur, which we asked John C. Reilly about.

The rest of this is a mild spoiler. Nothing major, but stop reading now if you don't want to know ANYTHING about Ralph Breaks the Internet.

Ralph, in this sequel, is very insecure. He's constantly worried that Vanellope is going to leave him, probably for the much cooler racing star, Shank (Gal Gadot). It's unfounded, but these insecurities create issues for the duo in the story, so we asked Reilly about letting Ralph's insecurities become a problem, and he clarified:

So there's a lot to chew on in this sequel, beyond the thrill of Sugar Rush racing, and brand placement in Oh My Disney. You can start digging into the material in Ralph Breaks the Internet starting tonight. And listen to John C. Reilly talking about friendship in our exclusive clip:

Ralph Breaks the Internet takes neighborhood theaters by storm this Thanksgiving weekend. Read our review of the animated sequel before you head out!

Westerns come in all shapes and sizes. But traditionally, the heroes of that particular genre ride into town wearing white, while they stave off a threat that's dressed head to toe in black. Over the years, the conventions of the Western genre have been twisted and tweaked by talented filmmakers, but few have been manipulated quite the same way that Jacques Audiard does for The Sisters Brothers. Take, for example, the siblings of the title. They are hired killers, men trained to hunt down prey for their despicable boss, The Commodore (Rutger Hauer). And yet, Eli (John C. Reilly) and Charlie Sisters (Joaquin Phoenix) are borderline likable, and you even end up rooting for them as the movie jogs along. We asked John C. Reilly about that, and he opened up by saying:

In The Sisters Brothers, which is preparing to open in more theaters after a limited release in select markets, John C. Reilly and Joaquin Phoenix play squabbling siblings who work together as a murderous team, even though Phoenix's character likes their jobs as bounty hunters way more than Reilly's character does. Their latest assignment is to hunt a man (played by Riz Ahmed) who has invented an unusual chemical substance that can aid in the gold-mining expeditions of the Old West. Only, travel in that day is slow, and the Sisters brothers run into conflict every stop of the way. Plus, Ahmed has met with Jake Gyllenhaal, and they have plans of their own.

Here's John C. Reilly, talking about the reputation of the siblings in The Sisters Brothers, and why he finds them sympathetic:

The Sisters Brothers is an unexpected journey through some soulful storytelling, digging far below the surface of four interesting men who come across as out of touch with their own time. Photographed beautifully by cinematographer Benoit Debie (Enter the Void), it's both an homage to classic Westerns, and a reinvention of this type of storytelling.

The Sisters Brothers should be playing in a theater near you as we speak.

It's been 10 years since Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly starred together in Step Brothers, and while we shouldn't get our hopes up of getting a sequel to that movie, the two actors are finally reuniting together as co-leads for Holmes & Watson. After years spent in development hell, this comedic take on Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson finally got off the ground in late 2016. With only three months to go until its release, the first Holmes & Watson trailer has finally arrived, giving us our first taste of Ferrell and Reilly's goofy portrayals of the Arthur Conan Doyle-created characters.

With the BBC Sherlock series back in limbo, Elementary having wrapped up its sixth season and Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law still two years away from leading Sherlock Holmes 3, Holmes & Watson is filling in the Sherlock Holmes media gap, and doing so with the kind of shenanigans you expect from Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly. Taking the action back to the late 1800s, these versions of the characters may be good at solving crimes, but their social etiquette is extremely lacking, as first evidenced by Watson's inappropriate behavior around the Queen of England. Actually, you might as well call all of their smarts into question from that incident with the bees, Watson failing to recognize Sherlock wearing a mustache and Watson knocking out the queen with one of those "self-photographs." Then again, this is the sort of thing you expect from a Ferrell/Reilly movie, so here's hoping their latest round of antics deliver the laughs.

As for what Holmes & Watson is about, the trailer lays out that Queen Victoria, played by Pam Ferris, is being targeted, and it's up to Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson to solve a case in four days, otherwise her Royal Highness will be murdered. Who's the villain responsible? None other than Sherlock's greatest enemy, Dr. James Moriarty, portrayed by Ralph Fiennes. Other notable characters included in the trailer are Rebecca Hall's Dr. Grace Hart (she'd be wise to turn down Watson's heroin offer) and Hugh Laurie's Mycroft Holmes, as well as Steve Coogan as a mysterious man with a strange prosthesis. Holmes & Watson's cast also includes Rob Brydon as Inspector Lestrade, Kelly McDonald as Rose Hudson and Lauren Lapkus as Millie. Simultaneously spoofing the Sherlock Holmes mythology and bringing the ridiculous, slapstick comedy we expect from Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly, Holmes & Watson will be out there for those wanting to end their 2018 movie year on a lighter note.

Holmes & Watson will be released in theaters on December 21. As for what else is coming for the rest of the year, head to our 2018 release schedule for that information.

While the first trailer for Ralph Breaks The Internet was released all the way back in February, and another came out this summer, they didn't exactly provide a lot of story context. We learned that Ralph (John C. Reilly) and Vanellope (Sarah Silverman) were going to be visiting the internet and getting into a variety of shenanigans, but the preview didn't explain what the film was actually going to be about. As a result, the mystery has persisted for months, but now the story at the heart of the Wreck-It Ralph sequel.

A few weeks back I attended a special press day at Walt Disney Animation Studios in Burbank, California for an inside look at the making of Ralph Breaks The Internet, and it was through a variety of presentations and interviews that I learned the central plot of the new movie. It picks up where the last one left off, with Ralph and Vanellope living comfortably and harmoniously in their respective games -- Fix It Felix and Sugar Rush -- but everything changes when the arcade owner, Mr. Litwak (Ed O'Neill), plugs in a Wi-Fi router. At first the device is deemed totally off limits for all game characters, but we all know that won't really stop our heroes... especially in a time of crisis.

That time of crisis is specifically comes thanks to an incident with the Sugar Rush cabinet, as an over-excited player accidentally breaks one of the steering wheels. Because the manufacturer no longer exists, the only replacement available online costs more than the game makes in a year, Mr. Litwak is forced to make the terrible decision to unplug it. As a result, Vanellope is left homeless, but Ralph is determined to help her, and believes that the answer to their problems rests on the internet -- specifically on the website eBay.

After sneaking into the router and being transported to the World Wide Web -- awed by it's incredible and expansive majesty -- a Search Bar takes them to eBay where they find the auction for the Sugar Rush steering wheel (which is amidst items such as a portrait of a sad kitten and a potato chip shaped like Beyoncé). Unfortunately, they don't actually understand how an auction works, and think that it's just a race to say a higher number than the other bidders. As a result, they wind up winning, but owing a handsome sum of $27,001. Ralph and Vanellope learn about this serious mistake, and are told that they have 24 hours to complete the purchase or forfeit the item.

Needing to earn a crazy amount of money quickly, the heroes come into contact with Yesss (Taraji P. Henson) -- the algorithm that exists behind the trendiest website online, BuzzTube. She tells them that the best way to make money on the internet is through the creation of a viral video, and while that puts the characters on a positive path, it's also one full of landmines for Ralph, given how he validates himself through other people.

Ralph Breaks The Internet is described by directors Rich Moore and Phil Johnston as a road film that will take Ralph and Vanellope into all aspects of the online experience -- so what's above is really only the set up for the larger story and larger world that the movie is building. It's incredibly exciting -- particularly for those of us who love Wreck-It Ralph -- and we'll have a lot more for you about the new Disney animated film in the weeks and months ahead.

The Western, as a genre, isn't dead, but it sure has grown comfortable on Hollywood's shelf, collecting dust until a filmmaker works up the courage to attempt another chapter in the storied realm. We have seen a few classic Westerns as of late (the Coen brothers' True Grit and Kevin Costner's Open Range leap to mind), while some filmmakers have opted to apply the tools of a Western to a modern story -- see Hell or High Water... like, immediately. Jacques Audiard's The Sisters Brothers is a vintage Western, though unlike one we've ever seen (and we'll explain why in a moment), but when CinemaBlend had the opportunity to interview the cast, we asked co-star Jake Gyllenhaal why directors don't tackle Westerns anymore, and we loved his thoughtful answer. He told us:

Bonus points for any shout out to the Emilio Estevez and Kiefer Sutherland-led Young Guns. Well played, Gyllenhaal. But he also brings up excellent points about filmmakers who are attempting to tell a new story in this timeless genre. You have to start off by finding something wholly original to say, and The Sisters Brothers finds that angle in its four main characters.

The movie -- which we managed to see at the Toronto International Film Festival -- balances two storylines that eventually intersect. In one, a man of science (Riz Ahmed) partners with an intelligent bounty hunter (Jake Gyllenhaal) on an experimental scientific invention that could aid the men as they pan for gold. In the second story, the Sisters brothers, Eli (John C. Reilly) and Charlie (Joaquin Phoenix), try to apprehend the two men from the first story and bring them back to their shared employer.

These four characters are men who we don't normally see in a Western. They are men of big ideas, defined more by intellect than of masculinity. And yet, they fit snugly into the boundaries of a Western, as is evidenced by the movie's trailer. Before you visit that, here's Jake Gyllenhaal talking classic Westerns on the modern film landscape:

Jacques Audiard's lyrical and captivating The Sisters Brothers rolls out in limited release starting on Friday, Sept. 21, before expanding to more theaters in October. And as an added bonus, we have this clever clip about living in 1851, so give it a spin because it will help set the mood for The Sisters Brothers!

It has been 10 years since Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly's hilarious team-up in 2008's Step Brothers, a film that remains loved and gut-busting to this day. Now the game is afoot and this comedic duo are once again teaming up for a comedy, but this time it will be not as step brothers, but as partners. Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly are starring in Holmes & Watson as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary detective and his friend and confidante in what will obviously be a humorous take on the classic mysteries. Now have our first look at the two in the first poster for Holmes & Watson. Check it out:

I didn't know they threw up gang signs in Victorian era England, but there you have it. Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly certainly look the part of the two friends and partners, rocking 19th century garb. Although I would have liked to have seen Will Ferrell's Sherlock Holmes wearing his deerstalker hat and smoking his classic pipe, but there is probably some rule against the latter. These two 'Holmies' look extremely confident, but something tells me Holmes' powers of logic and deduction might not be quite as astute as some of the other incarnations of the character. Just from this poster on Twitter you can tell how ridiculous this movie will be, and I fully expect that Holmes and Watson will hilariously bumble their way through whatever mystery they are solving.

That's really the exciting part about this movie: seeing the dynamic between these two actors and their characters. We've seen the magic that Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly can make together in a buddy film before, and watching these two in a 19th century detective movie is a premise ripe for hilarity. I can't wait to see Sherlock Holmes condescendingly telling Watson 'it's elementary' while completely missing the mark on his deduction skills. This film should provide a different, funnier telling of the Baker Street resident than the Robert Downey Jr. films or the Benedict Cumberbatch TV series. Such is the benefit of public domain characters, lots of different interpretations. The debut of this poster hopefully that means that a teaser or trailer for Holmes & Watson isn't too far off.

In addition to Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly in the title roles, Holmes & Watson boasts an impressive cast that includes Hugh Laurie as Mycroft, Ralph Fiennes as Professor Moriarty and Kelly Macdonald as Mrs. Hudson. Holmes & Watson is written and directed by Etan Cohen who most recently directed Will Ferrell in Get Hard.

UPDATE: The poster in question has since been removed. Fortunately, there should be plenty of trailers, posters and other fun bits released over the next few months that will come officially from the studio.

You can investigate Holmes & Watson when it hits theater screens on November 9th. Check out all the biggest movies still to come this year in our release calendar.

Talk of a Step Brothers sequel has been on again and off again several times over the years, but John C. Reilly has explained fairly clearly why nothing has ever actually happened with it. While Reilly realizes just how much the comedy seems to have resonated with fans, and admits that a sequel has been something that's been discussed for years, he says that at a big part of the reason that no sequel has happened, or is currently planned to happen, is because sequels are a lot less fun for the actors then they are the fans. According to Reilly...

While there have occasionally been hints that Step Brothers 2 could happen at some point, every time John C. Reilly, Will Ferrell or director Adam McKay are asked about it, it seems to fall into the "highly unlikely" category. Will Ferrell has somewhat echoed Reilly's comments here saying that part of the reason that Step Brothers is so special a comedy is that it stands alone and that making a sequel could potentially damage that. That's not to say that real conversations haven't happened. There was even a real pitch for the story at one point, though it doesn't appear anything ever came of it.

On the one hand, you understand John C. Reilly's point that, from a creative standpoint, sequels might not be as appealing as making something new. At the same time, it's clear that a lot of actors are finding something fulfilling in sequels, as some franchises have become so big that you have actors like Robert Downey Jr. or Hugh Jackman who play the same role over and over again for more than a decade. Reilly, however, doesn't seem to be one of those people as the only sequel he's been involved in is the upcoming Ralph Breaks the Internet.

Whether or not everybody involved would be excited to make Step Brothers 2, however, is a semantic point right now, as John C. Reilly tells Indiewire that there's nothing on the table at the moment as far as a plan to make such a film. it doesn't mean it will absolutely never happen, but it certainly makes the entire thing unlikely, and while making sequels to movies decades after the original is far from uncommon these days, it feels like the longer we go without a Step Brothers 2, the less likely such a thing becomes.

The western genre may not be as popular as it once was, but slowly over the course of the past few years it's been making one hell of a comeback. The latest proof can be found in the trailer to the upcoming film The Sisters Brothers, which sees Joaquin Phoenix and John C. Reilly playing the titular brothers, who hope to achieve their dream of owning their own storefront, courtesy of their various criminal activities. All that may stand in the way is Jake Gyllenhaal, Riz Ahmed, and some violent, undeniably cool action. You can check out the results for yourself in the trailer below:

Based on Patrick DeWitt's novel of the same name, The Sisters Brothers also co-stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Riz Ahmed, as a pair of men standing in the way of the brothers. Apparently, Ahmed's character, simply referred to as Warm, has stolen a formula that produces a substance that roots out gold deposits in riverbeds. Gyllenhaal's Morris is a prospector looking to keep that for himself, but naturally, Phoenix's Charlie and Reilly's Eli are after this formula, too. The only difference is, the Sisters brothers claim to be pursuing this purloined process in the name of their employer, from whom it was allegedly stolen.

Right off the bat, everyone involved in The Sisters Brothers main cast looks like they're having a blast, especially Joaquin Phoenix. For a man who's been known to be a bit prickly, both on and offscreen, seeing Joaquin Phoenix smiling and joshing with John C. Reilly almost feels like it needs an award created in its honor. Meanwhile, Jake Gyllenhaal and Riz Ahmed look like another fantastic double act, with Gyllenhaal acting like a sane, but driven, adversary and Ahmed playing the grounded scientific genius at the center of it all.

Now if I know my modern westerns, The Sisters Brothers will probably devolve into some Sam Peckinpah-esque violence, with some characters not making out at the end. If this film was that sort of experience alone, I'd still be looking forward to this movie, but probably wouldn't rush to see it. However, it's the signature blend of semi-Wes Anderson style, humor and slick performances that really makes what I've just seen really shine. To borrow from the film's plot, The Sisters Brothers is hidden gold in a riverbed, and the efforts of director / co-writer Jacques Audilard and his cast are the formula that seems to have found said gold.

For a movie like The Sisters Brothers to jump so far up on my personal watch list, it has to be made of some true grit. And that's just what this movie looks to possess, as this mash-up of vengeance and witty dialogue is the type of thing that makes a movie like this special. Should it stick the landing, don't be surprised if this one manages to make a splash in the awards season madness. The Sisters Brothers saddles up for laughs and lashes this fall, without a specific release date specified. But if you're looking for more comedy, tragedy, and everything in-between, our 2018 release schedule will be your guide to adventure.

Traditionally, Disney is fairly gunshy when it comes to theatrically released animated sequels. In fact, Disney Animation Studios has only ever produced one direct sequel to a theatrical release, The Rescuers Down Under, back in 1990. However, the sequels begin to increase in 2018 when Wreck-It Ralph sees a sequel of its own, Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-it Ralph 2.

The first movie brought us into a world that exists inside our favorite video games. The sequel, as the name implies, will expand on that theme and take on the entire internet. With a scope that large, nearly anything can happen, and, based on what we know, quite a lot of it will. Here's everything we know about the sequel to Wreck-It Ralph.

What Is The Wreck-It Ralph 2 Release Date?

There are several "big weekends" on the release calendar, and Disney is frequently associated with all of them. However, there may be no weekend more synonymous with Disney than Thanksgiving weekend. Movies like Frozen, Moana, and Coco have all been released the day before Thanksgiving, and Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 will be Disney's 2018 representative for the holiday weekend when it gets released on November 21, 2018. Originally, Ralph 2 was going to be released in the spring of 2018. However, likely due to the issues Disney was having producing Gigantic, Ralph was pushed to November. The film will have some competition for that release, as it opens the same day as Creed 2. It also opens the week after Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.

What Is Wreck-It Ralph 2 Rated?

It's a bit early to know exactly what the release date for Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 will be. However, the first movie received a PG rating and so it's a safe bet the sequel will fall in line with that. This is Disney that we're talking about, so really a G rating is the only other viable option. At this point, PG is becoming the standard for Disney animation and while the first film likely could have gotten away with a G rating, we expect the tone of the sequel to be on par with its predecessor.

What Have We Seen From Wreck-It Ralph 2?

Lucky for us, after years of waiting to see something from Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2, a trailer was finally released at the end of February 2018. In it, we see that Mr. Litwak, the arcade owner, has installed a Wi-Fi router in his business, which is plugged into the same power strip as the games, making it possible for Ralph and Venellope to go from the game world to the internet. While we still don't get much of the larger story in this two-minute trailer, it's easy to see that this sequel will be a lot of fun.

What Is Wreck-It Ralph 2 About?

The first details about the actual plot of Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 came out last summer during Disney's D23 Expo. While we already had an idea where the movie would take place due to the title, we have a bit of information as to why. Apparently, the copy of Sugar Rush inside the arcade from the first movie is in need of a replacement part. This leads Ralph and Vanellope to make use of a router that has been installed in the arcade to jump from the arcade onto the internet in order to go looking for it. This will take the pair to, we assume, a number of different worlds, similar to the way that each game in the arcade was unique in the first film.

Exactly how a couple of digital characters are going to pick up a physical replacement part from the actual internet is unclear. Maybe they need to make nice with an Amazon buy box or digitally alter the results of an eBay auction in order to make sure the arcade wins. Either way, we saw how scary going "Out of Order" was for the people inside Fix-It Felix Jr in the first movie, and clearly that possibility happening for Sugar Rush will make this adventure an equally serious one.

The Writers

The story of Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 comes to us from three Disney veterans who have a strong history behind them. The Head of Story is Jim Reardon, who previously was part of the story team for both Zootopia and the original Wreck-It Ralph. Then we have Pamela Ribon who previously assisted with the story for Disney's Moana. Before that, she had worked on television comedies like Mind of Mencia and Samantha Who? Finally, the third member of the story team for Ralph 2 is Phil Johnston, who co-wrote the screenplay for both Zootopia and the first Wreck-It Ralph. He's also got another big job on this movie, which takes us to our next section.

The Directors

The first Wreck-It Ralph was a solo directorial effort from Rich Moore, who also co-directed Zootopia. He'll be back in the director's chair for Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2, but this time he'll share directorial responsibilities with Phil Johnston. This is Johnston's debut as a feature film director, but considering how intimately he's been involved with this franchise, it certainly feels like he's picked the right film to start with.

Wreck-It Ralph

Long before Wreck-It Ralph 2 was official, we knew that it was coming, mostly because voice actor John C. Reilly likes to talk. The original Wreck-It Ralph was all about a character who had been designed to be a particular way, in this case, a video game villain, who tried to step outside his role and find more in his existence. His quest took him outside of his Donkey Kong-esque 8-bit video game and into other games, including modern first-person shooters and kart racers. Ralph succeeded in finding more, but also made peace with his role as the bad guy. One assumes that we'll find Ralph in a similar state as Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 begins. The shift away from video games and into the internet will probably be the biggest shift for him. We certainly got the impression in the first movie that the characters were very much a product of their era, and so Ralph, from a game over 30 years old, likely won't know where to start when navigating the web. We've been promised that the friendship between Ralph and Vanellope will be tested in the sequel, though we're not exactly sure what that means.

Vanellope Von Schweetz

Most of Wreck-It Ralph took place in the game of Sugar Rush, the candy go-kart game and home of Vanellope Von Schweetz, voiced by Sarah Silverman. At the end of the first film, we learned that Vanellope was actually the princess of the land, though her time as an apparent glitch made her feel more comfortable in a hoodie than a frilly dress. Sugar Rush will be key to the sequel as well, as Vanellope and Ralph's journey into the internet is undertaken in an attempt to find a part that will fix the Sugar Rush arcade cabinet. This could indicate a slight shift in the character dynamic. Even though the film's title is all about Ralph, he may take a more secondary role in Vanellope's quest to fix her game.

Fix-It Felix Jr.

Fix-It Felix Jr. was the name of the video game that Ralph came from, and Felix was an important supporting character in the first film. While Jack McBrayer was apparently the last person to know that Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 was coming, it has been confirmed that he'll be back to reprise his role as the guy who fixes everything. It's unclear how big a role Felix will have, but as the character was married at the end of the first movie, there are a lot of opportunities to do some new things with him.

Calhoun

Fix-It Felix Jr's bride at the end of the first movie was the tough-as-nails Calhoun, voiced by Jane Lynch. The actress has confirmed that she will be back for the sequel, and we would expect her part to be on par with that of Felix as far as its size an importance, but that's pure speculation. Calhoun's modern military video game character represented the current generation of more mature games, which are very popular among actual online communities, so, perhaps, she'll be in a better position to navigate the world of the internet than the others.

Mr. Litwak

One character from the first film who has seemingly not been confirmed for the sequel is Mr. Litwak, the owner of the arcade where Ralph and the gang all reside. He was voiced by the hilarious Ed O'Neil and while he wasn't a major character in the first film, with the plot of the game revolving around the Sugar Rush arcade cabinet, there's a good chance that the owner will make another supporting appearance as he did before.

Other Returning Characters

There was a nearly endless number of small supporting characters in Wreck-It Ralph in the form of the Nicelanders of Fix-it Felix Jr. and the additional racers in Sugar Rush. Since this adventure will take our leads out of the arcade, we wouldn't expect any of them to have roles even as large as what they had before. Still, expect the likes of Mindy Kaling and others to appear briefly, if only to keep the worlds feeling lived in and to help give us an idea of what has happened in the intervening years.

Yesss

So far, only one brand new character has been introduced for Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck it Ralph 2. During the D23 Expo last summer, attendees were treated to footage of the character known as Yesss who is voiced by Taraji P. Henson. She plays a digital algorithm for a website known as Buzzaholic, the apparent stand-in for BuzzFeed in this universe. She will be the film's tour guide of sorts as the character who introduces the internet world to our characters and helps them navigate it. No images have been released publicly of Yesss, but she's described as a character with blue hair that dresses fairly hip and has clothes made from fiber optics.

New Voices

Two voice actors have been attached to the movie to play brand new characters that we don't know much about. Ugly Betty's Ana Ortiz was the first name announced for what is being called a "small role," but beyond that, we don't know much. Late night TV host James Corden, who seems to be doing voice acting in everything these days, is also apparently involved in Wreck-it Ralph 2. His casting was revealed by Jane Lynch, so it's possible his role will be involved with whatever Calhoun is up to in the new movie.

Alan Tudyk

There are only about two things you can be sure of when it comes to a Disney Animation Studios movie these days. First, it will open with a shot of a castle, and two, you'll hear the voice of Alan Tudyk at some point. He's been in every animated Disney movie for the last several years, including voicing the major role of King Candy in the first Wreck-It Ralph. Tudyk has confirmed he'll be back for the sequel, though in a different role. It could be another major role like it was last time, though in Moana he voiced a sidekick chicken, so, really, anything is possible.

Disney References

Disney has become a massive entity in recent years and Wreck-it Ralph 2 will actually make reference to this fact with a major scene that they showed off at the D23 Expo last year. The characters will actually go to one of Disney's real homes on the internet, OhMyDisney.com, where they will see elements of Star Wars and Marvel as well as Disney animation. In fact, Ralph and Vanellope will meet all of the classic Disney princesses in one place, in a moment that will be a major joy for all the Disney fanatics out there. All of the original voice actors who are still with us will reprise their roles. With everybody from Snow White to Anna and Elsa making an appearance. Whether this will actually be a scene that is important in the grand scheme of the story or just one for fun is unclear, but it will be a major event either way.

Try as he might, Ralph (John C. Reilly) most certainly didn't wreck Wreck-It Ralph. Instead, the incredibly inventive Walt Disney Animation feature received an Oscar nomination back in 2012 as it wracked up $471 million in global grosses. A sequel was inevitable, and now we know what Wreck-It Ralph 2 will be about. Check out this cool promo vid, an app suggesting that Ralph's about to take the internet by storm:

Walt Disney held its official panel at CinemaCon in Las Vegas on Tuesday night, and in addition to screening Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales in its entirety (see the reactions to that sequel right here), the studio dropped details about Ralph Breaks The Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2. Yep, that will be the title of the new movie, directed by original Ralph helmer Rich Moore and screenwriter Phil Johnston. The studio also confirmed that in addition to John C. Reilly as the title character and Sarah Silverman as Vanellope, Wreck-It Ralph 2 will see the return of Jane Lynch and Jack McBrayer. As you can probably tell by the title, the sequel will set Ralph loose on the Web. Specific details beyond that are limited, but John Moore elaborated a bit about how the Internet will give them creators a much larger playing field when he said, in an official Disney release:

As you will recall, 2012's Wreck-It Ralph focused on the characters in a Donkey Kong-esque video game who were eventually able to break free of the confines of their stand-up arcade consoles and explore rival games. Ralph (John C. Reilly) ends up on an adventure in Sugar Rush, a go-kart game that is being controlled by the evil King Candy (Alan Tudyk). By the end of the movie, Ralph had proven to everyone that he wasn't the stereotypical bad guy.

Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 hits U.S. theaters on March 9, 2018. Knowing what we know about the original movie, and how popular it turned out to be, we expect the sequel to massively improve on that success, creating yet another hit for Disney Animation. That arm of the studio has been on a roll lately, with Moana and Zootopia being a stellar one-two punch in 2016. There are no movies on the slate for Disney Animation until Wreck-It Ralph 2, but I have a feeling this one will be worth the wait.

SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains light spoilers for Kong: Skull Island. If you haven't seen the film yet, and don't wish to know any details about it before doing so, please bookmark this page and come back after your screening!

Legendary Pictures is carving out a pretty straight-forward path with their growing MonsterVerse. It all started with 2014's Godzilla, and this weekend saw the addition of Kong: Skull Island -- but in the next few years there are blockbuster plans that include Godzilla: King of Monsters, and Godzilla vs. Kong. These are certainly exciting developments... but if it were up to Kong director Jordan Vogt-Roberts, the franchise would go in a completely different direction. Rather than focusing on major monster clashes, the action would instead remain centered on John C. Reilly's character and his experiences being trapped on Skull Island.

Jordan Vogt-Roberts and I got to talk a bit about the future of the MonsterVerse franchise when we sat down for an interview a few weeks back at the Kong: Skull Island Los Angeles press day. We were discussing the post-credits tag his blockbuster includes, and what it means for the future of the series -- but he explained that he has an idea for a project grown out of Kong that entirely separate from what's being planned. Said the director,

Audiences meet John C. Reilly's character, Hank Marlow, within the very first minutes of Kong: Skull Island's opening, as he is dogfighting with a Japanese pilot during World War II (actor Will Brittain playing the young Hank). Both he and Gunpei Ikari (Miyavi) crash land on Skull Island, and within moments jointly discover that they have entered a whole new world full of terrifying and fascinating creatures. We learn later in the film that Hank and Gunpei spent years together surviving and formed a lasting friendship as a result. It's not hard to see how this material could make for a fun blockbuster.

The nice thing about this idea is that none of the actual plans for the MonsterVerse franchise that currently exist negate it. Being a prequel means that the material is shielded from anything that happens within the continuity post-1973, so it should be safe from Godzilla vs. Kong (though it is worth noting we don't know the setting of that particular project just yet). If Legendary Pictures is looking for potential Kong stories to explore after the 2020 crossover movie, perhaps they could go back to Jordan Vogt-Roberts and let him execute his own designed narrative.

For now, the most significant details we know about the future of the MonsterVerse are release dates. Godzilla: King of Monsters, directed and co-written by Michael Dougherty, will be in theaters on March 22, 2019, and it will be followed a little over a year later by Godzilla vs. Kong on May 29, 2020. Stay tuned for more updates, and in the meantime check out Kong: Skull Island in theaters now.

Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, and Samuel L. Jackson may be soaking up much of the spotlight from Kong: Skull Island, but let's not forget John C. Reilly. We've seen the actor pop into the film's trailers to offer some comedic relief, but he has a larger role to play in the story.

Kong: Skull Island, directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts and delivered by Legendary and Warner Bros., doesn't waste time showing audiences the titular locale or Kong. The film opens on its sandy shores in the aftermath of a "World War II dog fight," producer Alex Garcia explained to reporters on the Hawaiian set. U.S. and Japanese pilots crash land on the beach and continue their skirmish through the trees until they reach a cliff: their death duel becomes moot when they come face to face with the King on the island. Said Garcia:

The U.S. pilot is Marlow, who's been on the island since that fateful day. When the secret scientific organization Monarch (the same from 2014's Godzilla) leads an expedition there years later, the crew comes into contact with the war veteran -- now grizzled, a bit nuts, living with a local village tribe, and played by John C. Reilly.

We won't get into too many spoilers, but suffice to say Marlow may also provide a means of getting through the dangerous terrain. Garcia explained:

Kong: Skull Island also features John Goodman as Bill Randa, a member of Monarch who spearheads the expedition; Tom Hiddleston as Conrad, a tracker and former member of the British Special Air Service tapped for the team; Brie Larson as Weaver, a war photographer with hopes of uncovering the true purpose of their mission; and Samuel L. Jackson as Lieutenant Colonel Packard, described as "Ahab and the whale" in terms of his mission to avenge the soldiers killed by Kong. Corey Hawkins (24: Legacy), Jason Mitchell (Straight Outta Compton), and Thomas Mann (Me and Earl and the Dying Girl) help round out the cast.

Monarch first discovers the island through the Landsat program, started in the early '70s as a means of mapping the earth through satellite photos. Humanity has been previously unaware of the destination due to the severe weather patterns surrounding it.

According to Brie Larson:

Kong: Skull Island opens in theaters March 10.

Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly proved they have pretty great chemistry in comedies like Step Brothers and Talladega Knights, so a film where the two of them play one of the most iconic duos in history seems like a no brainer. Reilly and Ferrell will share the screen once again in Holmes & Watson, a comedic take on detective Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. If you needed more reason to be interested, then the comedy is already building up an impressive cast to support the title heroes.

Last week Lauren Lapkus joined the cast as a woman with enough intelligence to match even Sherlock Holmes, and now Deadline reports that three more have joined the cast. The additions will be playing new takes on classic Sherlock Holmes characters, as well as one original character that has been added to the mix.

First up is Rebecca Hall as Dr. Grace Hart, the first female doctor to practice in London. You'll probably recognize Hall best from her role in Iron Man 3, as Maya Hansen, the former flame of Tony Stark and the creator of Extremis. Hall has held a number of high-profile supporting roles in films like The Town and The Prestige. She's just coming off performing the lead in Christine, which is getting some buzz for the awards season.

Rob Brydon has been cast as Scotland Yard head Inspector Lestrade, a stalwart in the Sherlock Holmes mythology. Frequently an ally to Holmes and Watson, he brings them in on cases too difficult for his police force- sometimes as his own expense. Experienced in both drama and comedy, Brydon can be seen in movies like The Trip, Cinderella, and most recently, The Huntsman: Winters War.

Finally, Kelly MacDonald has joined the cast as another Holmes staple. MacDonald will play Mrs. Hudson, the housekeeper of Holmes and Watson's infamous residence at 221B Baker Street. MacDonald has primarily starred in dramas, which include Trainspotting, No Country For Old Men, and an episode in the second season of Netflix's Black Mirror.

So, a pretty good cast all around! Will Ferrell will take on the role of Sherlock Holmes while John C. Reilly plays Dr. Watson. Holmes & Watson was written and will be directed by Etan Cohen (Get Hard) and is scheduled for a release sometime in 2018.

Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly have appeared in several movies together over the past decade, but their biggest collaboration still remains Step Brothers, where they played middle-aged man-children who were forced to live together. It doesn't look like a sequel to the 2008 comedy is coming anytime soon, but fear not, as the two actors will soon reunite to play the most famous crime-solving duo in all of literature. No, not Batman and Robin. Ferrell and Reilly will be the latest two actors to portray Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson.

It was reported earlier today by Deadline that Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly have signed on for the Sony comedy Holmes & Watson. Ferrell will play the observant detective, while Reilly will play his ever-present sidekick who writes about the cases. Directed by Get Hard's Etan Cohen, the movie will be (as most of you already guessed) a PG-13 comedy twist on the Sherlock Holmes stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Ferrell was originally supposed to co-star alongside Sacha Baron Cohen, but since didn't work out, Sony has spent the last few weeks putting the pieces back together, and the result is Ferrell and Reilly reuniting for their next big buddy comedy.

Even though no specific plot details were revealed in the report, anyone familiar with Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly's comedy work can probably figure out where Holmes & Watson intends to go. Using the Sherlock Holmes lore as the basic framework, these versions of the protagonists will get into ridiculous shenanigans, some downright slapstick, in the midst of solving a case in Victorian-era England (unless, of course, they decided to Americanize it for the present day). Since few Sherlock Holmes adaptations have veered into full comedy territory, this promises to at least be an unusual take on the material. Ferrell and Reilly proved they have an amazing dynamic together in Step Brothers and 2006's Talladega Nights, so ideally them playing Sherlock Holmes and John Watson should prove to be amusing.

Holmes & Watson is far from the only piece of Sherlock Holmes-related media that's come out in recent years. On the big screen, Robert Downey Jr. played the detective (with Jude Law as Watson) in 2009's Sherlock Holmes and 2011's Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, with a third movie currently in the works. In the world of TV, the BBC series Sherlock, which stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman as Holmes and Watson, respectively, is currently shooting its four season. Over on CBS, Elementary, which stars Johnny Lee Miller as Holmes and Lucy Liu as Joan Watson, will begin airing its fifth season on October 2.

Holmes & Watson is scheduled to kick off production right after Thanksgiving later this year. We'll keep you apprised of any new developments surrounding the movie, including a release date, as more information comes in.

2016 has been the year of talking animals. Most of the year's animated features have dealt with them, but the team behind Despicable Me will up the ante later this year. Their animals will sing. Sing will combine anthropomorphic animals with everybody's favorite pop songs to create, what they hope will be, the family entertainment event of the holiday season. Check out the newest trailer for Sing.

Buster Moon, voiced by Matthew McConaughey, is a koala bear who owns a theater going through financial difficulties. His big idea to get people to show up is to host an American Idol-style singing competition for the town, which will give average people the chance to be a star. As luck would have it, there are numerous animals of various shapes and sizes who dream of being great singers, all of whom are stuck in lives they aren't happy with.

There are two major selling points behind Sing. One is the voice cast. It's a solid list of talent including Reese Witherspoon, Wreck-It Ralph's John C. Reilly and Scarlett Johansson. The other thing Illumination Entertainment is hoping will draw people in is the music. The trailer makes it clear that the soundtrack to Sing will include a wide variety of popular music. It seems to cover both fairly current music as well as some slightly older material that will appeal to both kids as well as their parents.

Ever since the finale of the first Shrek movie made Smash Mouth relevant for 10 minutes, pop music and animated films have had a fairly strong relationship. Though Sing is the first to make the songs the focal point, we've seen pop songs become some of the most popular parts of some recent films. Shakira voiced a pop star character in Zootopia. The hit Pharrell Williams song "Happy" came from Despicable Me 2.

For what it's worth, we do know that at least a few of the voice actors are likely doing their own singing. Reese Witherspoon sang previously when she played June Carter in Walk the Line. Seth MacFarlane has even released a couple of albums, and has showed off his skill on both Family Guy and while hosting the Academy Awards. Scarlett Johansson also showed off her voice talents earlier this year in The Jungle Book

Sing will be the second animated feature film released by Illumination Entertainment in 2016. Their first entry, The Secret Life of Pets, hits theaters on Friday.

Entertainment has become a serious business. People take things like movies, music, and video games very seriously today. It's the mentality that leads to people believing that a movie remake equates to an attack on their on own personal life. It's good to have passion for art, it's one of the great things about being alive. It's possible, however, that we're all beginning to take things a bit too seriously. It's one thing to be a little obsessive about something like Star Wars, it's been around for decades and has a great deal of material to pull from. It's something else entirely when you get a Step Brothers tattoo on your ass.

Step Brothers co-star John C. Reilly was a guest on Conan when the host began to talk about the way the film has seen its fan base grow over the couple of years since its release. Reilly says he appreciates the fans' ardor for the movie, but he admits himself that in some cases it seems to be getting a little out of hand. Reilly tells Conan O'Brien that he can't really believe that people go to the extreme level of getting their bodies permanently marked.

I think we can all agree that this is more than a little out of control. Even if we don't focus on the relative merits of Step Brothers as the choice for one's complete devotion, although we could certainly do that, this is an unnecessary level of fandom. Tattoos, especially tattoos like this one, are permanent. You've made the decision to keep this with you forever. For a moment, consider what your favorite movie was 10 years ago. Now, think about how you'd feel to have that inked on your body right now. Maybe you'd be ok with that, but I'm guessing more than a few of you just broke out in a cold sweat.

On the plus side, if this guy ever decides that he doesn't love Step Brothers quite as much anymore, it's not like he ever has to actually look at this tattoo ever again. Check out the full clip below.

Do you have a movie-related tattoo? How much time did you actually think about it? Let us know about it in the comments.

In his long history of comedy filmmaking, Will Ferrell has almost always found himself surrounded by cast members equally adept to going for the funny stuff. Maybe it's something left over from his Saturday Night Live days, or maybe he's just that easy to work with, but either way the chances are good that Ferrell and his co-star are going to have at least one gut-busting scene together. With Josh Gad signing on as the Roger Ebert to Ferrell's Russ Meyer in Russ And Roger, the streak looks like it will continue for now, but it leaves us with a big question to be answered: Out of all of the co-stars he's managed to click with in his career, who's the best co-star to have made their bones in a Will Ferrell movie?

Brace yourselves, as we're about to evaluate days of Ferrell past and count down the 10 best partners to buddy up with the weird and wondrous man we know as Will Ferrell.

10. Kevin Hart (Get Hard)

Get Hard is a prime example of a movie that tried to become the next big thing, and wound up becoming a perfect film to find its audience in future TBS reruns. You can tell that putting Will Ferrell in a movie with Kevin Hart was a very calculated move, as Hart's rising star seemed destined to cross a comedic mainstay like Ferrell's path. The big problem with Get Hard's attempted dynamic is the fact that it can't decide which member of the pair is the straight man is and which one is the zany madman. In a more focused product, this might have been a duo to look out for. Instead, they chose the "safe" route and came in low.

9. Chris Kattan (A Night At The Roxbury)

There is an undeniable chemistry between Will Ferrell and former SNL co-star Chris Kattan - otherwise A Night At The Roxbury would have been a total waste of time. Playing a pair of equally stupid, and equally talented club dwellers, the Ferrell/Kattan team is one that works best when dialogue is in short supply and body language rules the day. Unfortunately, bringing Steve and Doug Butabi to the big screen required more dialogue than we'd ever heard these awkward characters ever speak in their entire pairing, and the unfortunate truth is that neither of the lead actors walked away entirely unscathed.

8. Zooey Deschanel (Elf)

Out of all of the unlikely pairings that we’ve seen in the past decade or so, Zooey Deschanel’s love interest/accomplice to Will Ferrell’s Buddy in Elf has to be one of the oddest. Yet, somehow, this couple skips the awkward phase and jumps into more adorable territory. It certainly helps that Deschanel is playing the cranky pessimist to Ferrell’s optimist, but the more innocent context that Elf exists in is the glue that holds this pair together. That, and the adorable locker room duet of "Baby, It’s Cold Outside" definitely helps.

7. Robert Duvall (Kicking and Screaming)

Will Ferrell is at his best when he’s desperately trying to please a father figure. In Kicking & Screaming, the towering comedian plays a mild-mannered suburban dad who’s a constant disappointment to his competitive pop, played by the great Robert Duvall. The latter has so much fun abusing Ferrell -- who understands that playing the victim leads to incredible comedy -- and when Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka gets in on the act, the film kicks things up to a new level. Extra points go out to Ferrell in this soccer comedy for being able to hold his own against an icon like Duvall, and still find the funny in some uncomfortable situations.

6. Danny McBride (Land Of The Lost)

When he’s playing a stick in the mud, much like Dr. Rick Marshall in the vastly forgotten film adaptation of Land Of The Lost, Will Ferrell really needs someone who knows how to bust his chops to great effect. In that respect, Danny McBride’s Will Stanton is just the kind of guy you’d expect to run a tourist trap out of his trailer, much less give a scientific professional hell on a routine expedition. With his tough talking swagger, and a twisted sense of humor, McBride’s adversarial relationship with Ferrell manages to make for the most interesting scenes of the movie.

5. Zach Galifianakis (The Campaign)

While The Campaign isn't the most memorable film for either Will Ferrell or Zach Galifianakis, it's still a pretty funny film that more people should have rallied behind in its 2012 theatrical release. This is especially true because it's a feature that not only showcases Ferrell's cocky bravado, but also gives Galifianakis a chance to be the lovable doofus the audience pulls for. The Campaign proved that Ferrell could give the other guy the chance to win the audience over, as he straddles the line between villain and pawn. Together, the two actors enhance each other’s strengths, and that’s gold in the comedy world.

4. Jon Heder (Blades of Glory)

Two things clicked into place on 2007’s Blades of Glory. First, Will Ferrell continued his streak of making hilarious comedies out of unexpected sports (here, it was figure skating). And second, Hollywood figured out another way to use Jon Heder in a post-Napoleon Dynamite world. Their opposing approaches to comedy played off of each other well, with Ferrell turning in an arrogant blowhard for the ages in Chazz Michael Michaels. But Heder didn’t wilt under Ferrell’s steely comedic gaze, bringing pathos and misplaced confidence to the surprisingly competitive Jimmy MacElroy. They were a great pair, one we’d like to see on screen together again.

3. Christopher Jordan Wallace (Everything Must Go)

Of all the Will Ferrell titles on this list, Dan Rush’s Everything Must Go is easily the most obscure - but it actually features one of his best performances and one of his best team-ups. In the movie, Ferrell plays an alcoholic forced to live out on his lawn, and while he’s basically completely alone in the world, he finds a very special companion in his neighbor’s kid, Kenny (Christopher Jordan Wallace). The two have tremendous chemistry and back-and-forth together, and it really makes this little-seen indie worth seeking out.

2. Mark Wahlberg (The Other Guys)

While Mark Wahlberg is the textbook definition of "one tough son of a bitch," he's also got a killer sense of humor. You kind of have to when you star in two films for Michael Bay, otherwise you'll probably end up becoming a crazy person who may or may not be an actual cannibal. It's that brand of humor meets intimidation that Wahlberg uses to his advantage as Terry Hoitz – the partner to Will Ferrell's more reserved Allen Gamble in The Other Guys. While Ferrell goes long into the end zone of over the top laughter, Wahlberg not only provides a formidable anchor for his partner's performance, he also manages to steal some comedic base hits himself.

1. John C. Reilly (Talladega Nights: The Legend Of Ricky Bobby/Step Brothers)

There was only ever one candidate for number one when it comes to our preferred partner in crime for Ferrell's antics. Though the pair started working together in Talladega Nights: The Legend Of Ricky Bobby, it wasn't until their work on Step Brothers that the Will Ferrell/John C. Reilly team really clicked for us. Between the rapid fire dialogue, the escalating stakes of manhood being waged, and – of course – the music video to "Boats And Hoes," there was a manic chemistry that has yet to be matched by any collaborator that decides to step into the ring with Will Ferrell.

Legendary Pictures’ upcoming Kong: Skull Island is a film that is about as dark and mysterious as its titular location. In addition to knowing little of what exactly the movie is actually about, there has been some difficulty lining up its cast. They do, however, have their eyes on three great actors to take those open roles.

Originally, Skull Island had two great actors on board for lead roles, as both Birdman’s Michael Keaton and J.K. Simmons, the Academy Award-winner from Whiplash, were signed on. However, both had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts. Those roles have yet to be filled, but according to Deadline, Legendary has started talk with Samuel L. Jackson to fill the role that Simmons would have played. Why do we get the feeling this role involves a lot of screaming at people? There is also a shortlist of candidates for the role that would have been Keaton’s and John C. Reilly is at the top. Finally, Tom Wilkinson has been offered a role in the picture, though this appears to be for a previously unknown part.

Wilkinson, and potentially the other two actors, will join the rest of the existing cast, which consists of Tom Hiddleston, the recently announced Brie Larson, and Straight Outta Compton’s Corey Hawkins. Interestingly, there is no mention of Russell Crowe anywhere, though was previously mentioned as likely to come on board. It was believed he would be taking one of the recently vacated roles. If true, it looks like that deal fell through (we’re going to guess it was for the role Jackson is now considering), though it’s also possible he’s looking at a different part.

With or without Crowe, this is looking to be a rock solid cast. There are a lot of Oscar-winners and nominees here. Whatever the story behind Skull Island, it’s unlikely Legendary is looking for a cast this strong if the focus of the movie is intended to be CGI monsters. From the outside looking in, this appears to be a movie that will be driven very much by the actors.

All we really know about the story is that it will be set in the early 1970’s, which would set the movie post King Kong by several decades (at least in most versions), so Skull Island is looking to be a sequel, at least of sorts.

Does the new casting news make you more excited to return to Skull Island? Jackson always brings his own unique Samuel L.-ness to every role and he’s always enjoyable to watch. We just hope he has better luck with giant apes than he had with giant sharks.

While there has been talk of a sequel to Wreck-It Ralph ever since the first one smashed box office records, it’s been a little while since we’ve heard anything about it. That has now changed. We’ve received some confirmation about Wreck-It Ralph 2 from the best possible source, Ralph himself, John C. Reilly.

Well, we got it from this tweet, because we’re not in Ireland.

Penny Hart is a producer on the Irish radio program RTE Arena, on which John C. Reiley was recently a guest. On the show he confirmed that he has officially signed on to voice the video game villain turned hero for a sequel. While we had heard a year ago that the Wreck-It Ralph 2 was being written we’ve heard essentially nothing since then, so it’s good to know that the follow up is moving forward. It looks like composer Henry Jackman and director Rich Moore will also be back for another game.

A new movie will give the filmmakers new opportunities to fill the screen with even more cameos from famous video game characters. Moore previously stated he would like to include characters as diverse as the Angry Birds and Mario, who he tried to get into the first movie but wasn’t able to for a number of reasons. The first film saw guest spots from everybody from Q-Bert to Street Fighter to Root Beer Tapper, so really anything is possible in a sequel as long as they can make the deal.

While we don’t know yet what Wreck-It 2 will be about the director has mentioned one idea, which has Ralph confront multiple versions of himself, since one would assume Ralph’s game has been popular through the decades and has been ported, spun-off, and rebooted through the years, potentially creating multiple Ralphs. Its certainly a fitting idea for a sequel.

The next task will be to see if the co-stars from the first movie will also return. As great as Riley was in the film his supporting cast of Jane Lynch, Sarah Silverman, and Jack McBrayer were a big part of what made the original so good. We hope to get all the old characters back along with a whole bunch of new ones. We have no idea how long the wait will be before Wreck-It Ralph 2 hits theaters, but we can't wait to drop another quarter in Fix-It Felix Jr.

Adam McKay has confirmed that plans are still afoot for Step Brothers 2 - but he has warned that it might take some time for it to actually materialize.

Working with the original film’s stars, Will Ferrell and John C Reilly, McKay had originally intended for the comedy sequel to be released before Anchorman 2. But Paramount then warmed to the idea of the Channel 4 news team’s reunion, and Step Brothers 2 was put on the back burner as a result. But while the project has been long delayed, McKay hasn’t forgotten about it, and he has now told Collider that the trio has an entire outline already penned and ready. Said the director,

Despite obviously being happy with where they are currently at with Step Brothers 2, however, McKay insisted that the sequel won’t happen for a while still. The reason for this is the same reason why Step Brothers 2 didn’t happen in the first place: Anchorman 2. Having already dabbled in the "sequel business" recently, McKay doesn’t want to become known as a filmmaker who has run out of original ideas and becomes stuck returning to their old work. That’s why he’s wisely decided to focus on original cinematic material for the time being. "I want to go make some original movies," he said. "Or you know, The Big Short is an adaptation, but do some different stuff."

Despite this delay, McKay feels that there is still plenty of room to explore with the characters. John C Reilly and Will Ferrell’s chemistry is so rich and timeless, meaning that they could wait for decades and the film would still end up being amusing. In fact it would actually probably make the film even funnier seeing the duo preposterously old and still mithering their parents. Said McKay,

You can’t argue with McKay’s logic. If he was to oversee another sequel just a few years after Anchorman 2’s release then it wouldn’t really sit well. It’s just good to hear that Adam McKay, Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly are still out their flying the flag for Step Brothers 2, and that they have somewhat formed a plan for their future cinematic slate. Plus, even though I have complete faith that Step Brothers 2 will be worthwhile, McKay currently has plenty of other projects on his plate to contend with before he focuses on another Brennan Huff and Dale Doback adventure.

There's a special kind of comedy magic that happens when you pair Will Ferrell with John C. Reilly. And fans of both have reason to rejoice as these two insanely funny performers are reuniting for Border Guards, an upcoming comedy from Adam McKay.

Deadline reports Sony Pictures is backing the Gary Sanchez Productions picture, which will star Ferrell and Reilly as two dopey but eager buddies who aim to give their lives new meaning by protecting America's southern border from would-be trespassers. It's unclear if the pair would be official border guards (as the title suggests) or the volunteer kind you occasionally hear about in strange news stories. Regardless, things take a turn for these two when they find themselves across the border without identification. You know what that means: they have to sneak back into the U.S., evading the very authorities of which they are a part!

While the film is not being described as a political comedy, it seems unavoidable that it could be read that way as immigration is still a hot button issue in the U.S. Even the term "illegal immigrant" has come under fire as being insensitive. Of course, Ferrell is not new to political comedy. He famously impersonated President George W. Bush on Saturday Night Live as well as in the one-man Broadway show You're Welcome America: A Final Night with George W. Bush. But his movies don't generally deal in political issues.

Here's an excerpt of You're Welcome America: A Final Night with George W. Bush:

But if he's going to go political, he's off to a promising start. Working in favor of Border Guards being a sharp political comedy (perhaps even a satire) is its screenwriter, Jesse Armstrong. The English scribe has a seriously stunning CV that includes episodes of the celebrated sitcoms like The Thick of It, Peep Show and Veep as well as contributing credits on the outlandish and outstanding films In The Loop and Four Lions. Both of these comedies famously took taboo topics (war and terrorism) and made them shockingly rich for comedy.

Border Guards will mark the third time Reilly and Ferrell have headlined a movie together, following the hit comedies Step Brothers and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. Notably, both these films were helmed by McKay, and the Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues director is being eyed to helm Border Guards as well. So it's set to be a true family reunion.

This has been an unusually strong year for star-studded horror comedies, most notably Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant’s Hell Baby, Jacob Vaughn’s Bad Milo, and even Jonathan Levine’s Warm Bodies and Paul Middleditch’s Rapture-Palooza. Hollywood’s biggest and brightest are no longer so wary of starring in flicks that mix scares with the laughter. XYZ Films’ Life After Beth, the directorial debut from I Heart Huckabees co-writer Jeff Baena, is the latest star-studded sub-genre offering. And according to ScreenDaily, it has wrapped its Los Angeles production just in time for the producers to seek international distribution at the Toronto Film Festival, which begins this week. Sony Pictures Classics will be handling the film’s U.S. release, which means it might make it to more than just three theaters.

Since we last reported on Life After Beth, the film has amassed a major cast. Not only are Parks and Recreation’s Aubrey Plaza and John C. Reilly starring, but there’s also Dane DeHaan (The Place Beyond the Pines), Molly Shannon (Saturday Night Live), Paul Reiser (Mad About You), Cheryl Hines (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Anna Kendrick (Pitch Perfect) and Matthew Gray Gubler (Criminal Minds). Kendrick gets extra credit for also having starred in Rapture-Palooza, but then loses those points since that movie wasn’t that great.

Produced by American Zoetrope, Starstream Entertainment and Abbolita Productions, Life After Beth falls into the vastly overworked zombie subset, and follows Zach (DeHaan), a young man whose life is turned upside-down when his recently deceased girlfriend comes back to life. I’m not even sure if Kendrick or Plaza is the zombified love interest. As far as I can tell, Shannon and Reiser will play the parents to DeHaan and Gubler, while Hines and Reilly will play Plaza’s parents.

It’s unfortunate that Baena has no previous work to compare this film to. Considering Huckabees was a David O. Russell movie, there’s no telling where his work ended and Baena’s began. We can’t even tell if this will be a balls-to-the-wall comedy or something more subtle. The only other thing Baena has been attached to is Revenge of the Jocks, a plot flip on Revenge of the Nerds, which doesn’t get my hopes up. DeHaan and Reilly make it especially hard to gauge, since they’re also known for their dramatic work. But Reilly can act in just about anything under the sun, so I’m not too worried.

XYZ Films, who released the ridiculously awesome horror Frankenstein’s Army, is taking a few other potential sales to Toronto, including another horror comedy, Stung, and the Dutch crime thriller Wolf. Another one of their films also finished shooting recently, the highly anticipated sequel to Gareth Evans’ The Raid: Redemption.

I wouldn’t expect it to take long for someone to snatch this film up, as its $2.4 million budget makes it seem like an easy movie to profit from, given the popularity of its central cast. Does it sound interesting to you guys?

UPDATE: Our own Eric Eisenberg has chimed in to point out an interesting wrinkle, which is that Deadline refers to the character as Ronan Dey... who doesn't exist. Who does exist, though, is Rhomann Dey, the character that Hitfix first reported Reilly would be playing. Is there some kind of game of Telephone getting played and mixing everyone up? We don't know for sure yet... but the matter may not be quite settled as to who Reilly is playing, so stay tuned for when we learn more.

UPDATE #2: Deadline has corrected their article and admitted that they made a mistake. John C. Reilly will indeed by playing Rhomann Dey in Guardians of the Galaxy, as previously reported The original story is below.

Marvel Studios started building their fortune by hiring unknown or otherwise cheap actors like Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth and Robert Downey Jr. (hey, he was cheap at the time) to headline their franchises. As they move on to Phase Two and build bigger vaults to hold their riches, though, they're apparently more willing than ever to shell out for some big names.

And Guardians of the Galaxy-- an outer-space superhero movie starring a heroic raccoon-- might need the big names to help sell it to audiences who aren't quite ready for the transition. They've already got the likes of Benicio del Toro, Glenn Close and Zoe Saldana on board, and now the role has finally been revealed for one more big name, John C. Reilly. According to Deadline Reilly is playing Ronan "The Accuser" Dey, and I really can't do better to describe him than to lift this information from Wikipedia:

No, I don't really know what much of that means either-- seriously, I'm still not quite over the main characters in this movie including a raccoon and a man who looks like a tree. Deadline does note, though, that in some versions of the comics Ronan is the son of Thanos, whom we first met as the purple bad guy at the end of The Avengers. We've been promised that Thanos will be part of the action in Avengers 2, but Thanos's role in Guardians is currently much fuzzier. You can guess that Ronan The Accuser makes a confirmed link… but I think we've all learned from Marvel that the second you assume you know what they're up to, they change it up entirely.

Guardians of the Galaxy arrives August 1 next year.

Since John C. Reilly started becoming known as an actor we've seen him take on an incredibly wide variety of roles, from ridiculous comedies like Step Brothers and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, to praised drama like Chicago and Magnolia. Surprisingly, though, two genres that he has largely kept away from include both action movies and science-fiction. But if HitFix is to be believed, that could change soon in a major way.

According to the site's sources, the Academy Award-nominated star is has been given an offer to play a key role in not just James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy, but in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The report says that Marvel now wants Reilly for the role of Rhomann Dey, a character they describe as the middle man between S.H.I.E.L.D. and the titular intergalactic space police. Or, as the site puts it, he could be "the Agent Coulson of the Guardians movies."

For those unfamiliar with the comics, Rhomann Dey was first introduced in the mid-70s as the alien leader of the Nova Corps, a space militia group. If the site is correct, however, the role will be turned into a human and serve as "the primary face of normal humanity." Should Reilly actually sign on he will join a core group that includes Chris Pratt as Star-Lord, Dave Bautista as Drax The Destroyer, Zoe Salana as Gamora. HitFix also adds that they are still looking at names like Hugh Laurie, Alan Rickman, and Ken Watanabe for another role in Guardians as well, playing a "peer" of Reilly's.

Reilly was last featured in the terrific Disney animated film Wreck-It Ralph and is rumored for a cameo role in Anchorman 2: The Story Continues.

It looks like the news that the Channel Four News Team going to New York isn't going to be the only cool little tidbit we learn about Anchorman: The Legend Continues today.

Bleeding Cool has gotten their hands on a casting call out of Atlanta - where the sequel is currently in production - and it suggests that John C. Reilly will be making an appearance in the new Adam McKay comedy. Here's the full listing:

This will be the third time that McKay, Reilly, and Will Ferrell have all worked together after Step Brothers and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, and is definitely a welcomed reunion. Before Anchorman: The Legend Continues finally got the green light from Paramount there was talk about a possible Step Brothers sequel, but I wonder what that means now. Could Ron Burgundy's return mean that we won't get to see Brennan and Dale again? It all depends on how McKay and Ferrell feel about making sequels instead of developing new stories with new characters.

In addition to Reilly, Kristen Wiig has been confirmed for a part in the Anchorman sequel, and James Marsden and Terence Stamp are in line for roles as well. It will be in theaters on December 20th and, as always, you can get all the latest updates in our Blend Film Database.

This year Parks and Recreation's sulking beauty Aubrey Plaza made strides toward becoming a leading lady in film with her starring role in the quirky indie romance Safety Not Guaranteed. There she played into the cynical twenty-something niche she's been known for, before attempting to turn the clichéd character on its head when her snarky heroine falls for a guileless dreamer who believes he can time travel. The film won praise out of Sundance, and now that it's headed overseas, Plaza's doing more press and revealing details on an intriguing new project.

Speaking with the U.K.'s Guardian, Plaza dished that she and John C. Reilly would be co-starring in a new comedy called Life After Beth. She was reluctant to share too many details, but confessed it would involve zombies and is "a really fucked-up movie." Plaza has close personal ties to this zombie comedy's screenwriter Jeff Baena. Best-known for co-writing the philosophical comedy I Heart Huckabees, Baena is Plaza's live-in boyfriend, and will make his directorial debut on Life After Beth. The film will also mark the first time Plaza and Reilly have worked together on screen.

It's unclear when Life After Beth might roll into production. For now, Plaza is in production on another directorial debut, Justin Reardon's A Many Splintered Thing. Featuring Chris Evans, Topher Grace, and Anthony Mackie, the movie is expected to be one of three Plaza comedies that will hit theaters in 2013. The others are the Shia LaBeaouf-fronted action-comedy The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman and the sex comedy The To Do List, which stars Plaza as a virgin looking to gain experience before going to college. The latter will open on August 16th.

Wreck-It Ralph was one of the biggest hits of the 2012 fall season, netting more than $200 million worldwide on the power of family audiences, with kids attracted to the candy-colored world and parents getting nostalgic for the video games of their youth. When you've got a movie that's such a big hit, and especially when it's coming from Disney, you can pretty much assume a sequel will be next-- but now have we gotten confirmation that it's happening, and from a very unlikely source.

When Wreck-It Ralph opened in Australia, Moviehole caught up with stars John C. Reilly and Sarah Silverman, and interviewer Clint Morris allowed his five-year-old daughter to get the last question, which naturally was "Will there be more Wreck-It Ralph." Turns out the answer is yes! Here's Reilly explaining how they know it:

It's not just the actors who are willing to talk about Wreck-It Ralph 2-- director Rich Moore, who says he wouldn't dream of handing the sequel over to another director, is also in on the scheme, and already has ideas of which character he'd like to include next time around.

Mario gets a shout-out in Wreck-It Ralph but doesn't appear, and while he might be the most high-profile video game character who doesn't make an appearance, he's surely not the only one fans might like to see next time. So with Wreck-It Ralph 2 almost certainly happening, let us know which other video game characters you want to see next time in the comments! With an entire world of arcade games to choose from, there's no lack of options.

UPDATE! In a recent interview with Collider, Wreck-it Ralph composer Henry Jackman revealed that Disney is still working on the story for Wreck-It Ralph 2. The great thing is that he reconfirms what we already knew about the sequel, that "it is officially on the cards."

So what will Wreck-It Ralph 2 be about? Back in February of 2013 Wreck-It Ralph director Rich Moore had this to say: "Are there other Ralphs [in this world we were introduced to in the original]? What would happen if another Fix It Felix, Jr. game was plugged in? Are there other Ralphs that are more contemporary? Is there another version of the game that was made for mobile? Are there those kind of Super Smash Bros types games where all the characters are gathered in a fighting game? What would that be like for Ralph to come face to face with those different iterations of himself?"

Wreck-It Ralph isn’t a great movie just because of its astoundingly creative story, beautiful animation, and its impressive world-building – it also has some truly top-notch vocal performances. Featuring the likes of John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer and Jane Lynch, the feature is cast perfectly up and down and while their voices are familiar, all of the stars are still able to disappear into their characters and give them independent life. They made most of their chances to pair up in the recording studio, and the result is fun, improvised banter that adds to the film’s humor. They make a great movie even greater, and I was beyond happy to have the chance to speak with all of them.

I recently had the opportunity to attend a press event for Wreck-It Ralph in Los Angeles and below you’ll find my interviews with the movie’s stars. Watch the videos to see Reilly explain unwillingness to be typecast; Silverman discuss how she developed the sweet, nasally voice for the little Vanellope von Schweetz; and Jack McBrayer and Jane Lynch talk about the strange experience of watching themselves in an animated film And, of course, I had to ask all of them what it was like being part of the incredible Disney Animation Studios legacy.

Check them out!

John C. Reilly

Sarah Silverman

*Note: Here’s a link to the scene from The Way of The Gun that I was talking about during my interview with Sarah Silverman. Definitely NSFW without a pair of headphones.

Jack McBrayer and Jane Lynch

Want to see more from Wreck-It Ralph? Head on over to our Blend Film Database!

Stupid is equal parts objective and subjective. What might be foolish, idiotic, downright childish behavior to one might be an acceptable life choice to another. Is it better to be the dude with a sixteen hundred on his SATs that can’t screw in a light bulb or the guy who flunked calculus but can vanquish a deer with a crossbow from seventy-five yards? How you answer that question probably determines whether or not you think Conan The Barbarian is a dumbass.

We’re just hours away from the Cimmerian once again unleashing his brand of deadly aggression, and the forthcoming release has gotten some members of the Cinema Blend staff arguing over our favorite low IQ heroes. Some of the foolish inhabitants on the list to follow have a handful of practical skills, some of them even got the job done, but if anyone was in desperate need of math homework help, none of these slow-witted movie heroes would be turned to for help. Would Conan score poorly on an IQ test? I think the better question is could Conan finish an IQ test without mangling the administrator? Unprovoked aggression seems like the sort of thing that would cost you in a timed exam like that.

Here are Cinema Blend’s thirteen favorite low IQ heroes. If you think we’ve underestimated one of your favorites or forgotten a beloved ignoramus, let us know in the comment section. Otherwise, stand back and let the idiocy waft over you. Salt shakers are about to be thrown, shoes are about to be eaten, little coats are about to be ripped and it’s going to start smelling of boats and hos in here.

Bill S. Preston, Esquire and “Ted” Theodore Logan

by Sean O'Connell

In a not-too-distant future, the heavy metal stylings of Wyld Stallyns will bring peace and harmony to our planet. Before that happens, however, the band’s head-banging members -- Bill S. Preston, Esquire and “Ted” Theodore Logan -- have to pass their final history exam. With the help of a time-traveling phone booth, Bill and Ted embark on a educational journey through the ages, transforming from two burnouts who thought Caesar was “a salad dressing dude” to two scholars who had befriended the likes of Abraham Lincoln and Socrates. As we honor some of our favorite movie heroes with low IQs, we share words of wisdom from our eventual leaders, Bill and Ted. Be excellent to each other. Party on, dudes. Oh yeah, and San Dimas High School football rules!

Lloyd Christmas

by Mack Rawden

Lloyd Christmas doesn’t want Mary Swinson, no Swanson, no Mary Samsonite’s money. He might borrow a few cents here or there to make sure his orange suit is ready for the ball, but everyone knows he’s good for it. His IOUs might as well be backed with the gold standard; his heart certainly is. Lloyd is the type of guy that’ll give you the second pair of gloves right off his hands and praise senior citizens when they actually serve a purpose. It’s that winning attitude that sends Lloyd on a cross-country voyage to ensure safe luggage delivery, and it’s the same one that keeps so many of us returning to the Farrelly Brothers’ funniest movie. He might be an idiot, but goddamnit, he’s our dead bird-selling, ninja-fantasizing idiot.

Dale Doback and Brennan Huff

by Katey Rich

Adam McKay and Will Ferrell have gotten away with a lot of surreal stuff in their hit comedies-- the dog-bear conversation in Anchorman comes to mind-- but they really outdid themselves in Step Brothers, with Ferrell and Reilly playing a pair of grown adults who brawl with elementary schoolers, build homemade bunk beds to disastrous results, and film themselves crashing their dad's yacht only to proudly show him the video. Dale and Brennan aren't just stunted man-children, they're complete idiots who were off on their own wavelength until they found each other. They're immature and foolish and impossible to live with, but like it or not they're the movie's heroes, deserving of redemption and totally showing up Brennan's dick brother Derek. Dale and Brennan are stupider and more obnoxious than any real people, but when they sing at the Fuckin' Catalina Wine Mixer and amaze the crowd, it somehow feels like a victory for us all.

The Little Tramp

by Kelly West

Either he's not very bright or he's simply stuck in a perpetual run of bad luck, but ridiculous things seem to happen to Charlie Chaplin's Tramp wherever he goes. What The Tramp may lack in brain-power, he makes up for in heart and resourcefulness. Whether he’s eating a shoe (The Gold Rush), raising a child while living on the street (The Kid), or somehow managing to likably allow a blind woman to believe he’s wealthy in an attempt to win her favor (City Lights), the Tramp is one of the finest examples of a relatively innocent hero that knows how to grin and bear even the toughest of scenarios. Chaplin’s gift for finding humor in hardship and telling jokes without words translates best through the little Tramp, which is why so many of the films that feature the character remain classics today.

Romy White And Michele Weinberger

by Mack Rawden

Contrary to what they may have said to impress you, Romy and Michele did not invent Post-It Notes. They didn’t thermoset resin nor raise any viscocity levels. There just wasn’t time between trying to figure out who was the Rhoda and locating Michele’s top. Sacrifices had to be made. But you know what they just realized? You’re a bad person with an ugly heart, and they don’t give a flying fuck what you think, even if you were in the A-group. Romy and Michele have each other. They’ve forged a bond over making fun of Pretty Woman and reminding each other to deduct sixteen pounds for their shoes. All the popular girl approval in the world can’t replace that sisterly love. So, put the first verse of “Footloose” on repeat, scarf down all the jelly beans, gummy bears and candy corn you can find and join the interpretive dance party, it’s the only way to properly celebrate the unity these two loveable idiots share.

Derek Zoolander

by Eric Eisenberg

I’m not a doctor, but I’m fairly certain there’s no medical condition that can stop a person from turning to the left. It’s merely a symptom of being a total and complete idiot, which describes Derek Zoolander to a T. Part of a profession that doesn’t necessarily encourage intelligence, Derek has spent his entire life coasting by on his good looks and I get the sense that he probably didn’t graduate from high school. It’s his imbecility, of course, that drives the film forward, as it’s because of his low brain power that Mugatu can have him assassinate the Prime Minister of Micronesia (or is it the prime rib of Propecia?). The nice thing about Derek, though, is that his heart is always in the right place. Sure, the “Derek Zoolander Center For Kids Who Can't Read Good And Wanna Learn To Do Other Stuff Good Too” is easily the worst name for a charity on the planet, but at least he’s helping people.

Forrest Gump

by Jesse Carp

Besides his reverse-Bond introductions, we learn of Forrest Gump’s low IQ early when Mama Gump humps her boy’s way into the regular, not remedial class. That begins his incredible journey of falling ass-backwards through some the most significant moments in American history. The film works so well because it paints a vast portrait on such a simple canvass. Forrest's narration of the unbelievable creates a fascinating contrast by having events of such gravity relayed to us by a man who fails to grasp any of their significance. In the end, these moments are of little value to Forrest, the only thing that matters to him is love. His Mom, Bubba, Lieutenant Dan, Jenny and what the film has been driving for this whole time... his son. The most heart-breaking and enlightening moment occurs when Forrest asks if his son is 'like him.' It’s this insight and emotion from Forrest that shocks us into realizing he's aware of his mental limitations which only adds an extra layer of complexity.

Hi and Ed

by Katey Rich

Hi and Ed want a baby, but Ed's insides are a rocky place where Hi's seed can find no purchase. Biology and the prejudices of others have conspired to keep them childless, but then there's Nathan Arizona, the unpainted furniture king whose wife just had five babies-- and isn't it unfair that some should have so many while others should have so few? You can't fault their logic, or deny that they take excellent care of Nathan Jr., even holding up a convenience store to make sure Nathan Jr. has plenty of Huggies. Hi and Ed are different kinds of dimwits, Hi the repeat offender who can't stay on the right side of the law, and Ed the cop-turned-fugitive driven entirely by her desire for a family; it says a lot about the total IQ of Raising Arizona that Hi and Ed aren't even the dumbest characters in the movie, but they're also the undisputed heroes, not to mention the most romantic pair of outlaws since Bonnie and Clyde.

Navin Johnson

by Eric Eisenberg

Carl Reiner’s The Jerk opens with a dirty, homeless Navin Johnson (Steve Martin) announcing to the camera that he “was born a poor black child.” Now, I’m supposed write a bit more than one sentence about the idiocy of this epically dumb man, but that really sums up the character perfectly. Navin is an individual permanently out of his element with no chance of rescue. A hilarious parody of the classic “rags to riches,” story, Navin’s incredible and naïve optimism is what makes him end up being so successful. Every little opportunity he gets he treats like he’s just won the lottery, from when he gets his name in the phonebook to his abusive relationship with Patty the Daredevil. Perhaps if we were all as dumb and hopeful as Navin we’d all be happier. Next time you’re at a fancy restaurant be sure to order the freshest wine they have and never be afraid to let your mentally defective wife throw knives at you.

Ace Ventura

by Sean O’Connell

Guys who talk out of their ass -- who literally bend over, spread their cheeks and talk out of their ass -- aren’t expected to have that high of an IQ. Ace Ventura constantly is ridiculed by actual cops as he tries to piece together clues and solve each case. Yet, when the chips are down, Jim Carrey’s moronic pet detective somehow delivers. The master of disguise manages to retrieve stolen puppies, infiltrate mental institutions, and locate Snowflake, the Miami Dolphins’ beloved mascot. Always eager to show up the jealous cops on the Miami-Dade police force, Ace blasted holes in an eyewitness’s account when he busted out that clever trick with the extra-thick sliding glass patio door. Maybe he’s not as dumb as his hair makes him look? Oh wait. He did kind of miss the mark on that whole Finkle-is-Einhorn thing. When it comes to Ace’s intellect, the jury’s still out.

Chance The Gardener

by Jesse Carp

Chance has never known anything but his life as a gardener. Nothing. His entire life he's been hidden away in an estate tending gardens and watching endless amounts of television but when the old man dies, he’s forced to think for himself. This is a problem, thinking is not his strong suit nor understanding for that matter, although he claims to quite a bit (even if he doesn't know what a claim looks like). Aptly named, dumb luck strikes and our intellectually challenged hero is soon providing fodder for presidential addresses and shaping economic policy because others are so blind they're taking his simple statements and twisting them into words of wisdom. We watch the simple man's simple thoughts interpreted as metaphorical profundities, witty jokes and even romantic advances, all for our enjoyment. I know, it's not polite to laugh at the dim-witted but the way Hal Ashby and Peter Sellers crafted Being There, the laughs never feel at his expense. Besides, even if they were he wouldn't understand and would care less. Instead, he'll just go walk on water… Yes. This was nice.

Tommy Callahan

by Kelly West

Tommy Callahan spent his entire life coasting on his father’s wealth and affection. Rather than being the typical rich a-hole with no sense of responsibility, he’s a rich idiot with no sense of responsibility. He’s the guy who uses the fan in his new office to practice his Darth Vader voice, while envisioning all of the things he’ll be able to put in his mini-fridge. He’s the guy who nearly suffocates from an inflated airplane life preserver. He's the guy that doesn't realize yelling for attention in a bank lobby may cause alarm. He’s the guy who sets fire to a potential client’s desk in an effort to make a point. Tommy Boy is Chris Farley at his absolute best, delivering a character that’s funny, lovable and ultimately heroic. The best thing about the movie (besides how funny it is), is that the character never really changes. Tommy is the same guy he always was, he just finds a way to use that toward something more than entertaining frat-guys. “Hehehe… bull’s ass. “

Colonel Mustard

by Mack Rawden

With a psychopath on the loose and the cops en route, there’s only one man capable of leading his fellow blackmailed buffoons to the solution, and that decorated military veteran, that high-ranking Pentagon official is Colonel Mustard. Only he understands this is war, and casualties are inevitable. Besides, with a little legroom, he can sneak away from the pack, destroy the double negatives, deal with his big-mouthed driver and be back in time to frisk Miss Scarlet. If only the house weren’t booby-trapped with ironing borders hidden in closets and falling chandeliers. If only people would explain to him what exactly a butler does or whether they meant no in saying yes. Oh well, best solve one problem at a time, like keeping that nosy Wadsworth, whatever his job is, from exposing himself in front of the ladies. It’s God’s work, and with Colonel Mustard on the case, audiences can be assured by the end they’ll get more than one guess at the solution and one of the greatest slapstick comedies ever.

Honorable Mentions:

Lt Frank Drebin from The Naked Gun

Shelley Darlington from The House Bunny

Jacques Clouseau from The Pink Panther

Jay from Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back

Napoleon Dynamite from Napoleon Dynamite

The Three Stooges

Wayne Campbell from Wayne's World

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